Telogen effluvium : potential causes in Iraq

الملخص EN

Background: Telogen Effluvium (TE) among women is a challenging common problem for Dermatologists and data on its prevalence among Iraqi women is limited hair loss is a distressing problem for women because femininity and attractiveness is linked to women's hair.

Aim of study: To find out the main risk factors of Telogen Effluvium among women in Thi-Qar Province ( Iraq ).

Some of these risk factors are investigated before in Iraq but not in Thi-Qar province such as TSH while others such as Vitamin D are barely investigated in Iraq.

Patients and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out in Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital, Nassiriah City ( Thi-Qar Province Center), Iraq through the period from 1st of March, 2014 to the end of June, 2015 on random sample of 100 women with Telogen Effluvium and convenient sample of 100 healthy controls.

Thyroid stimulating hormone, serum Ferritin and Vitamin D3 levels of both groups were measured.

Results: There was a significant association between positive family history of hair loss and women with Telogen Effluvium (p<0.001).

No significant difference in thyroid stimulating hormone level was observed between cases and controls (p=0.6).

There was a significantly lower serum Ferritin and Vitamin D3 levels among women with Telogen Effluvium (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Low serum Ferritin and Vitamin D3 levels among women might play a major role in etiology of Telogen Effluvium.