Study of inflammatory infiltrate in male pattern alopecia (histopathology and electron microscope)

Abstract

MPA is hormonal driven hair loss in genetically predisposed adults. It is the most common type of hair loss in men and women. It follows a definite pattern, which spares the posterior and lateral scalp margins, even in the most advanced cases and even in old age.

This study was a trial to determine and evaluate the character of inflarp.matory. infiltrate in male pattern alopecia to through a light on its pathogenesis.

Twenty patient with MPA (15 male and 5 female) in addition to five normal patients were included in this study. All the subjects of the age ranged from 18-35 years.

Two 4-mm punch biopsy spec1mens were taken (one from the occiput and vertex area of the scalp) from each subject. The vertex biopsy specimen was taken from the balding area between the hairy and balding areas of the scalp (transitional area) and occipital specimen was taken from the hairy area of each MPA patient. These biopsies are subjected to, light microscopy (using H&E and immunohistochemical staining) and electron microscopy.

Our finding in H&E sections showed an apparent reduction in the number of hair in the anagen phase, an apparent increase in the number of vellus hair with reduction in the number of terminal hair. Empty fibrous tracts had replaced most of the hair follicles and patchy inflammatory infiltrate consisting mainly of lymphocytes were seen around the lower portion of the infundibulum, isthmus and sebaceous glands in all specimens of transitional zones of MPA.