Reply to Comment on: The Gabrin Sign

The authors of the document respond to a comment on their work regarding the "Gabrin sign," which is an observation that males and individuals with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) may be more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. They discuss the potential role of androgens in COVID-19 severity and the protective effects of anti-androgens. They cite studies that support the association between severe AGA and COVID-19 vulnerability, including a study examining hair loss severity in 1,941 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and a controlled cross-sectional survey with 43,595 participants. They also mention a prospective cohort of 77 hospitalized men showing that anti-androgens may protect against severe COVID-19 outcomes. The authors highlight ongoing clinical trials evaluating anti-androgen therapies for COVID-19 and emphasize the importance of recognizing AGA as a potential visual marker for significant COVID-19 disease burden in medical emergency settings. They conclude by honoring Dr. Gabrin, the first physician to die from COVID-19 in the United States, whose name is associated with the medical eponym "Gabrin sign."