Normalized androgen ratio: its application to clinical dermatology

The study explored the use of the normalized androgen ratio (NAR) to assess androgen activity in 114 female patients with acne vulgaris, hirsutism, or androgenetic alopecia. It was found that 16% of acne vulgaris patients, 31% of hirsutism patients, and 42% of androgenetic alopecia patients had raised NAR values, indicating increased free androgen activity. The NAR, which accounts for total serum androgen concentration and binding protein levels, was used to guide hormone therapy in some cases. This approach was based on the premise that free androgen concentration is crucial for biological activity, suggesting that NAR estimation could aid in managing conditions associated with excess androgen activity.