Sex hormone-binding globulin and saliva testosterone levels in men with androgenetic alopecia

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Abstract
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), plasma testosterone and saliva testosterone were measured in sixty-four men with androgenetic alopecia and in forty males within the same age range without alopecia. There was a significant reduction in SHBG levels in bald men, compared with controls. Plasma testosterone levels were not raised in bald men, but their salivary testosterone levels were significantly higher than in controls. Androgens play an important role in the pathogenesis of androgenetic alopecia (Ebling & Rook, 1979), but no correlation has been found between the plasma androgen level and androgenetic alopecia (Burton et al., 1979). In order to clarify this point we have studied plasma testosterone, saliva testosterone and plasma sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels in a group of males with androgenetic alopecia.