Lifestyle and Adiponectin Level: Four-Year Follow-Up of Controlled Trials

Hair follicles undergo anagen (growth), catagen (involution), and telogen (resting) phases. Chemotherapy-induced hair loss occurs due to disruption of mitosis in anagen-phase hair matrix cells, with scalp hair being highly affected as 85%-90% of scalp follicles are in the anagen phase. Combined chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin caused hair loss in 92% of patients, with 69.5% experiencing complete alopecia. Prostaglandin analogs like latanoprost have been shown to increase eyelash number, thickness, and length by inducing follicles into the anagen phase. In an animal model, topical misoprostol before doxorubicin therapy increased residual hair. These findings suggest prostaglandins may protect hair follicles during chemotherapy, warranting further investigation.