[Usefulness and limitations of the evaluation of sex-hormone-binding globulin in women with a female pattern of androgen-induced baldness].

The study evaluated sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and androgen serum levels in women with stage II female pattern androgenetic alopecia (AA) who did not exhibit symptoms like acne, hirsutism, or irregular menses. Results showed no significant differences in SHBG levels between patients and controls. The study suggested that previous inconsistent findings might be due to varying levels of "cryptic" hyperandrogenism in different studies. It concluded that the genetically-determined response of target organs to androgens played a major role in AA, especially in women without evident hyperandrogenism.