PAI-1 Expression in Non-scarring Hair Loss

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will investigate whether subjects who suffer from hair loss have increased levels of PAI-1 compared to age-matched control subjects. The level of PAI-1 expression will be determined in subjects without hair loss and in subjects with non-scarring hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata.

Detailed Description
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This study will compare the levels of PAI-1 expression in subjects with different forms of non-scarring hair loss and in these subjects vs normal age-matched controls. Hair loss subjects will have their Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation medical records reviewed to ensure they meet inclusion and exclusion criteria. All subjects will have a 4 mm punch biopsy on the scalp. Tissue PAI-1 levels from scalp skin biopsies will be determined by immunohistochemical staining. Samples will be kept for approximately 15 years, after which time unused samples will be destroyed.

Official Title
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Evaluating PAI-1 Expression in the Hair Follicles of Patients With Non-scarring Hair Loss.

Conditions
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Androgenetic Alopecia, Telogen Effluvium, Alopecia Areata

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age-matched control subjects who do not have a history of hair loss A clinical and pathologic diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata or normal scalp skin All subjects must have given signed, informed consent prior to registration in study Exclusion Criteria: History of previous hair transplantation Current and past use of medications topically on the scalp Clinical or pathologic diagnosis of a scarring alopecia History of inflammatory conditions of the scalp such as psoriasis

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Non-scarring hair loss<br>Patients seen at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation physician offices that have undergone evaluation for hair loss and have a diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium or alopecia areata. | |
| Control<br>Age-matched controls who do not have a history of hair loss and have normal scalp skin without evidence of hair loss. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PAI-1 expression level in scalp skin biopsy samples | Tissue PAI-1 expression levels will be determined by immunohistochemistry, a three-layer biotin-strepavidin system. Positive PAI-1 expression per total tissue area will be quantified using the color-picker function in imaging software.The PAI-1 expression found in normal scalps will be compared to those found in scalps with hair loss. | Baseline | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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alopecia, hair loss