Serum Elevation of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate Associated with Male Pattern Baldness in Young Men

The study investigated 18 young men aged 18 to 32 with rapidly progressive male pattern baldness and found that all had elevated levels of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), ranging from 340 to 730 μg/dl, while their testosterone levels remained normal. In contrast, a control group of men without hair loss had significantly lower DHEA-S levels, ranging from 124 to 300 μg/dl. The findings suggested that adrenal hyperactivity, indicated by elevated DHEA-S, might trigger alopecia in genetically susceptible young men.