Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Chronic telogen effluvium is a non-scaring diffuse hair loss which lasts longer than 6 months. Low iron
stores are considered a possible cause of chronic diffuse telogen hair loss in women. Serum ferritin
concentration is an indicator of the status of iron stores.
OBJECTIVE:
This study was done to Compare the hemoglobin serum level and serum ferritin level in detecting low
iron store in adult menstruating females with chronic telogen effluvium and show the relation between
chronic telogen effluvium and iron deficiency.
PATIENTS AND METHOD:
Case-control study of 63 adult menstruating female subjects. Case group; 38 patients with chronic
telogen effluvium and control group; 25 healthy volunteers. Serum ferritin levels and hemoglobin were
estimated for the case group and some other investigations were done in selected cases as indicated. For
controls only measurements of hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were done and were statistically
compared.
RESULTS:
The mean serum ferritin level was low in the case group (17.6ng/ml) in comparison with control group
(41.2ng/ml). The difference was statistically significant (P<0.001) between both groups. The mean
hemoglobin levels were similar in both groups and there was no significant statistical difference
(P=0.868) between both groups.
CONCLUSION:
There was a statistical association between low serum ferritin and chronic telogen effluvium.
Hemoglobin levels may not reflect the real iron state in patients with chronic telogen effluvium and
serum ferritin level is a better indicator for early detection of low iron store