TLDR Ultrasound can help detect early signs and severity of hidradenitis suppurativa.
The study investigated the use of 70-MHz ultrasound to detect early signs of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and their link to disease severity. In a cross-sectional study involving 139 HS patients, ultrasound revealed abnormalities in hair follicles, such as curved shapes and protrusions into pseudocysts. Significant ultrasound signs associated with HS severity included the "bridge sign," "sword sign," and retained keratin fragments. Two keratin fragmentation patterns, multifragment and cylindrical, were identified. These findings suggested that ultrasound could aid in early HS diagnosis, management, and treatment evaluation by identifying signs linked to the disease's progression.
54 citations
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January 2018 in “Scientific reports” Human hair contains diverse proteins, including keratins and histones, which could help assess hair health and aging.
30 citations
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June 2015 in “Dermatologic Surgery” Ultrasound shows 80% of Hidradenitis Suppurativa patients have abnormal hair tracts that may worsen the condition.
17 citations
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June 2014 in “Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine” Abnormal cuticle and hair shaft medulla cause hair loss in androgenetic alopecia; sonography helps diagnose and manage it.
1398 citations
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May 2008 in “Histochemistry and Cell Biology” Keratins are crucial for cell stability, wound healing, and cancer diagnosis.
50 citations
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July 2008 in “British Journal of Dermatology” 138 citations
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March 2007 in “Experimental cell research” Only a few hair-specific keratins are linked to inherited hair disorders.
276 citations
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January 2005 in “International review of cytology” More research is needed to understand how hair keratins work and their role in hair disorders.
199 citations
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January 2004 in “The International Journal of Developmental Biology” Hair follicle growth and development are controlled by specific genes and molecular signals.
29 citations
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April 2003 in “Experimental dermatology” Human hair follicles grown in vitro maintain normal keratin patterns and structure.