Value of Sulfotransferase Enzyme Assay in Predicting Minoxidil Response in Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia
October 2024
in “
QJM
”
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Studysummary This study found that sulfotransferase enzyme levels significantly impact the effectiveness of minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia, suggesting that testing for this enzyme could help identify potential responders before treatment.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
This study evaluated the role of sulfotransferase enzyme activity in predicting the response to minoxidil treatment in 60 male patients with androgenetic alopecia. Results showed significant increases in vellus and terminal hair counts, terminal hair percentage, total hair count, and mean hair width after 4 months of minoxidil use. Notably, patients with higher baseline sulfotransferase enzyme levels responded better to treatment, suggesting that this enzyme assay could be a valuable diagnostic tool to identify potential responders to minoxidil before starting treatment. Approximately 40% of patients experienced hair growth, highlighting the enzyme assay's potential to improve treatment outcomes by excluding non-responders.
