YKL-40: A Sensitive Biomarker for Early Androgenetic Alopecia and Early Hidden Metabolic Syndrome

The study investigated the role of YKL-40 as a biomarker in 100 individuals, including 70 patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and 30 healthy controls. It found that patients with AGA had significantly higher serum YKL-40 levels compared to healthy subjects, particularly in early onset cases. There was also a significant association between AGA and metabolic syndrome (MS), with early onset AGA cases showing a higher prevalence and severity of MS. The study concluded that high serum YKL-40 is a sensitive predictor for early onset AGA and the development and severity of MS in these patients.