Male pattern baldness has been found to be related to the likelihood of severe COVID-19, scientific study

Severe cases of COVID-19 are 2.5 times more likely in men with baldness than in those with full hair, a California investigation by biotechnology company Applied Biology, Inc. found.

Male pattern baldness, or “ androgenetic alopecia, ” is a common form of genetically determined hair loss that affects about 50% of men over 50.

It usually shows up as thinning of hair in temporary areas of the scalp before advancing to affect the crown as well.

The researchers found that male patients with a common biomarker linked to hair loss appeared to be significantly more susceptible to severe coronavirus infections.

Specifically, these men were more sensitive to male hormones called androgens, which are also found in patients with androgenetic alopecia.

The results of the study may open up new possibilities for new therapies, and possibly even treatment for COVID-19, the research team said.

Male pattern baldness is controlled by variations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, which regulates the body’s sensitivity to androgens, the so-called “male hormones” which include testosterone and androstenedione.

Androgen responses have also been linked to an enzyme known as TMPRSS2 which is believed to play a role in coronavirus infections.

The researchers were specifically motivated to study the link between the AR gene and severe COVID-19 after observing that a disproportionate number of men with androgenetic alopecia appear to be hospitalized for coronavirus.

Specifically, the team reported that About 79% of men with severe COVID-19 had the disease, compared to the range of 31 to 53% expected for men of a similar age group.

In their study, the researchers measured the length of the polyglutamine repeat region (or CAG repeat) in the AR gene, which is linked to both androgen sensitivity and male pattern baldness, in 65 men who had been hospitalized with COVID-19.

They found that men whose AR CAG repeat was less than 22 nucleotides (the molecules that make up DNA) they were significantly less likely to be admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 than patients with CAG counts of 22 or more.

“Our data shows that longer AR CAG scores are associated with more severe COVID-19 illness.Said medical researcher Andy Goren of Applied Biology, Inc., based in California.

The discoveries, he continued, “They indicate that the length of the AR CAG repeat could be used as a biomarker to help identify male COVID-19 patients at increased risk of ICU admissions.”

“The identification of a biomarker connected to the androgen receptor is another piece of evidence that highlights the important role of androgens in the severity of COVID-19 disease,” he concluded.

Dr Goren and his team are also exploring a promising new therapy for COVID-19 patients that uses a so-called androgen receptor antagonist to regulate TMPRSS2 expression, which could lead to treatment for the coronavirus.

The full results of the study will be presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Spring Symposium 2021, which will be held May 6-7.

“This research demonstrates the scientific value of dermatology by providing key information on the role of genetics and its link to COVID disease. “ said Lidia Rudnicka, EADV board member and dermatologist at Warsaw Medical University.

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