Study of Diffuse Alopecia in Females

The study from 24 years ago examined 100 female patients aged between 14 and 60 years who were suffering from diffuse hair loss. The pattern of hair loss was found to be telogen effluvium in 92% of patients, androgenetic alopecia in 7%, and anagen defluvium in 1%. The probable causes of diffuse alopecia were psychological stress (30%), fever (33%), abortion and delivery (21%), trauma and surgical operation (13%), and hypothyroidism (10%). In 57% of patients, more than two factors were identified, while in 6% no probable cause could be found. Routine laboratory investigations revealed Hb level less than 12gm% in 96% of patients, hypochromic picture on PBF examination in 57% of patients, GIT parasites in 13% of patients on stool examination, T3 value less than 70 p gm/dl in 7% and TSH more than 7IU in 8% of cases. Microscopic examination of hairs in all the cases showed (telogen) club root except in one case which showed broken and tapered root end (anagen).