Oh prima,dann kann ich mir ja die Übersetzung sparen:-)

Melatonin increases anagen hair rate in women with androgenetic alopecia or diffuse alopecia: results of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Fischer TW, Burmeister G, Schmidt HW, Elsner P

Br J Dermatol 2004 Feb;150(2):341-5.
Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Erfurter Strasse 35, D-07740 Jena, Germany. tobias.fischer@derma.uni-jena.de FAU - Fischer, T W
PMID: 14996107 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

BACKGROUND: In addition to the well-known hormonal influences of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone on the hair cycle, melatonin has been reported to have a beneficial effect on hair growth in animals. The effect of melatonin on hair growth in humans has not been investigated so far. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether topically applied melatonin influences anagen and telogen hair rate in women with androgenetic or diffuse hair loss. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 40 women suffering from diffuse alopecia or androgenetic alopecia. A 0.1% melatonin or a placebo solution was applied on the scalp once daily for 6 months and trichograms were performed to assess anagen and telogen hair rate. To monitor effects of treatment on physiological melatonin levels, blood samples were taken over the whole study period. RESULTS: Melatonin led to a significantly increased anagen hair rate in occipital hair in women with androgenetic hair loss compared with placebo (n=12; P=0.012). For frontal hair, melatonin gave a significant increase in the group with diffuse alopecia (n=28; P=0.046). The occipital hair samples of patients with diffuse alopecia and the frontal hair counts of those with androgenetic alopecia also showed an increase of anagen hair, but differences were not significant. Plasma melatonin levels increased under treatment with melatonin, but did not exceed the physiological night peak. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, this pilot study is the first to show that topically applied melatonin might influence hair growth in humans in vivo. The mode of action is not known, but the effect might result from an induction of anagen phase.

[Idiopathic chronic telegon effluvium in the woman]

Trueb RM

Hautarzt 2000 Dec;51(12):899-905.
Dermatologische Klinik, Universitatsspital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Schweiz. ramitru@derm.unizh.ch FAU - Trueb, R M
PMID: 11189837 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

In approximately 30% of cases of chronic diffuse loss of scalp hair with a duration of at least 6 months, no underlying abnormality can be found. Typically this occurs in women, starting abruptly without a recognizable initiating factor, and involving the entire scalp area with increased shedding of telogen hair. With the exception of bitemporal recession, hair thinning is usually discrete, and contrasts to the great emotional overtones in this situation. This may initially lead to the differential diagnosis of psychogenic pseudo effluvium. Due to synchronization of the hair cycle, the amount of shed hair is greater than that in androgenetic alopecia, while miniaturized hairs are not a feature of the disorder. Overlap with androgenetic alopecia and/or psychogeneic pseudo effluvium is not uncommon. Scalp dysesthesia or a sensation of "pain in the hair" (trichodynia) is an accompanying symptom in a significant proportion of cases, and correlates better with emotional upset than with actual hair loss. Current therapeutic recommendations are pragmatic, and based on both experimental observations of the sheep wool industry and clinical experience. They include the use of L-cystine-containing oral preparations and of corticosteroids. Further investigation into the molecular controls of the hair cycle are required to find a more specific form of therapy, for which the expense and risk-benefit ratio seem appropriate for the treatment of this benign condition.

The reliability of horizontally sectioned scalp biopsies in the diagnosis of chronic diffuse telogen hair loss in women.

Sinclair R, Jolley D, Mallari R, Magee J

J Am Acad Dermatol 2004 Aug;51(2):189-99.
Skin and Cancer Foundation, University of Melbourne, Monash University, St Vincent's Hospital, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Sinclair@svhm.org.au FAU - Sinclair, Rodney
PMID: 15280836 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

BACKGROUND: Chronic diffuse telogen hair loss is common in women. Paired 4-mm punch biopsy from the vertex scalp for horizontal and vertical sectioning is commonly used to distinguish between chronic telogen effluvium (CTE) and female pattern hair loss (FPHL). FPHL is now the favored term for androgenetic alopecia in women. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To evaluate the reliability of a single horizontally sectioned scalp biopsy in the diagnosis of FPHL, 207 women presenting with chronic diffuse hair loss had three 4-mm punch biopsy specimens taken from immediately adjacent skin on the mid scalp, and all 3 biopsy specimens were sectioned horizontally. Findings were compared with 305 women who underwent two biopsies, with one sectioned horizontally and the other vertically. The terminal to vellus-like hair ratio (T:V) at the mid-isthmus level was used to diagnose FPHL (T:V <4:1), CTE (T:V >8:1), or indeterminate hair loss (T:V=5:1, 6:1, or 7:1). To correlate the histologic diagnosis with the clinical severity, a mid-scalp clinical grading scale was developed. RESULTS: Among the 305 women who had a single horizontal scalp biopsy, 181 (59%) were diagnosed as having FPHL, 54 (18%) having CTE, and 70 (23%) having indeterminate hair loss. Six hundred twenty-one horizontal biopsy specimens were assessed from 207 patients. On the basis of consensus over 3 biopsies, 159 (77%) were diagnosed as having FPHL, 44 (21%) having CTE, and the remaining 4 women (2%) as having indeterminate hair loss. Among these 207 women, 114 were assessed clinically as having stage 1 or 2 hair loss. Sixty-nine (60%) were diagnosed as having FPHL on the basis of triple biopsy, 42 (37%) having CTE, and 2 having indeterminate hair loss. Ninety-three were graded as having stage 3, 4, or 5 hair loss. FPHL was diagnosed in 90 women (97%), CTE in 2, and indeterminate hair loss in one. By using each single biopsy as the criterion for diagnosis, 398 (61%) were classified as FPHL, 99 (16%) as CTE, and 124 (20%) as indeterminate. In 493 biopsies (79%), the single biopsy conclusion was identical to the 3 biopsy conclusions. Where disagreement was seen (21%), most were classified as indeterminate, rather than as a wrong diagnosis (3.3%). CONCLUSION: Application of these diagnostic criteria achieved accurate diagnostic definition in 98% of women with triple horizontal biopsies versus 79% with single horizontal biopsy. Ninety-seven percent of women with a mid-scalp clinical grade of 3, 4, or 5 were given a diagnosis of FPHL on triple biopsy. Scalp biopsy for diagnosis should be reserved for women with a mid-scalp clinical grade of 1 or 2.