An Analysis of Thyrotropin Levels in Patients With Nonscarring Alopecia: A Single-Center Retrospective Comparative Study

This study analyzed thyrotropin (TSH) levels in 1,411 patients with nonscarring alopecia (NSA) subtypes: alopecia areata (AA), telogen effluvium (TE), and androgenetic alopecia (AGA). The primary finding was that TSH levels did not significantly differ across NSA subtypes in 1,291 euthyroid patients, even when stratified into low-normal and high-normal categories. Among patients with thyroid dysfunction, TE was associated with the highest rates of hypothyroidism (5.0%) and hyperthyroidism (5.5%). Racial differences were noted, with Black or African American patients with AA and TE having lower mean TSH levels than White patients, though this was not seen in AGA. The study's retrospective nature and potential for incomplete records were noted as limitations. Overall, TSH levels were not significantly influenced by NSA subtype, and the clinical significance of racial differences in TSH levels remains unclear.