Human hair lipid gradient

S226

Huh

of the scalp showed destruction and atrophy of hair follicles. Routine biochemical and hematological examinations were normal. The patient was diagnosed as KFSD and oral acitretin (0.5 mglkg) was given.

cure (clinical and mycological) was observed in 30 (8 I %) of 37 subjects. With mild tinea capitis cure was obtained after I and 2 pulses in 2 and 5 subjects, respectively. With moderate disease complete cure was obtained after I, 2 and 3 pulses in I, 8 and 7 subjects, respectively. With severe tinea capitis 2 and 3 pulses produced complete cure in I and 6 subjects, respectively. There were no clinical adverse-effects. In tinea capitis, itraconazole pulse therapy is effective, safe and is associated with high compliance. The pulse regimen enables the duration of treatment to be individualized, according to the extent of disease and its rate of resolution.

IP173

A quantitative hair growth assessment in female androgenetic alopecia during one year, and its tiodulation~by a topicai 5ti-reductase inhibitor

V. Michel’, H. Gollnickz, R. Happle”, E. Brocker”. R. Linse’, PaDupuy ’ . ’ Pierre-Fbbre Resetrr~h bufitute, T~~ulouse. Frmce: 2Depcrrrnrerrt Mqdehrrg;

of Dertrwrology cm/ krtereology, “Mm!nqg: ’ Wiitzbur;p; ‘Elfurr.

Urriversirv Gernmy

of

The purpose of this study was to Bssess the one-year variation of hair growth in female androgenetic alopecia (AGA), when treated by a topical So-reductase inhibitor (Trikostim@, Ducray Lab). The study was conducted on 35 female subjects aged between 23 and 59 years, suffering from AGA grade I or II on the Ludwig scale. Patients who had started new oral contraception within 6 months before entry the study and who had received antiandrogen therapy in the past I2 months were excluded. Subjects underwent a series of instrumental evaluation at 3month intervals for I5 months (3 months without treatment, then I2 months of treatment). The instrumemal tests were performed from a hair sampling on a I cm2 tattooed scalp area. Measurements included total weight of hair, hair count and hair diameter. The results showed an increase by 12% of hair weight during winter time, compared to the baseline untreated period (autumn, p = 0.01). In spring, the increase was reduced (6% compared to baseline, /I = 0.4). In summer, the increase was again higher (19%. p < 0.01). Finally, in the next autumn, hair weight was identical to baseline (autumn of the previous year). Results regarding hair count and hair diameter showed about the same profile. i.e a stabilization of hair loss with the test product. In conclusion, hair weight seems to be a sensitive method for evaluating variation of hair loss with seasons. We also demonstrate that a topical So-reductase inhibhor may counteract hair loss. P174

Treatment of tinea capitis with itraconazole capsule pulse therapy

A.K. Gupta’, S.L.R. Hofstader’. R.C. Summerbell’, R. Solomon’, I? Adam’. M. Alexis’. N. Raboobee2, P De DonckeS. ‘University of Tornrrto. Canada; 21Jlriversity of Natal,

South

Africa;

3Jarwsetl

Researclr

Foutrdu/iorr,

Belgiunl

Fifty subjects (48 children, age cl8 years and 2 adults) with tinea capitis were treated with itraconazole in a multicenter evaluation. Each pulse lasted one week with 2 weeks between the first two pulses and 3 weeks between the second and third pulses. A second or third pulse was administered depending upon the response of the subject at the point the next pulse was due. Itraconazole (5 mg/kg/day) was dosed as: >40 kg, 200 mg/day. 20-40 kg, 100 mg/day and IO-20 kg, 50 mg/day. The duration of the study was I2 weeks. The organisms were mainly Z tonsurons (41 subjects). 37 subjects were available for evaluation I2 weeks after the start of therapy. At this time-point,

1PI75 1 Keratin expression in the hair of different racial groups S. Venkatachalam, K. Smith, M. Gonzalez, H. Judodihardjo, P. Bowden. Deprturent of Demutologp University of Wales College

of Medicine,

Card#

UK

Some genetic variation in hair keratin expression has been identified in the Caucasian population. The aim of this project was to extend these observations and investigate whether there is any genetic variation in keratin gene expression due to race. This was done by comparing keratin IF proteins extracted from the hair and nails of individuals of different races. Hair samples were collected from twenty volunteers of various races (Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Negroid and Asian) and the extracted keratins were analysed. Iwo groups of proteins were identified: those of smaller size (39-46 kDa) and those of larger size (60-65 kDa). In the samples studied very little variation was observed. However there was a variable occurrence of epidermal keratins (K5, KG, Kl4, Kl5, K16 and K17) in the hair and nail extracts. It was not possible to identify any inter-racial variability in the electrophoretic profile of keratins but genetic differences obviously exist between individuals.

Pi76 El

Human hair lipid gradient

S. Motta, A. Caretti, S. Sesana, M. Monti. Uuiversitri Studi di Milorro Dernmtologio,

ond Istiruto Chico Roz~ntro, Italy

Huttrorritns,

degli

(1.0.

Constitutive lipids of human hair have long been investigated. It has been shown that hair contains cholesterol, free fatty acids as well as non polar lipids. Other lipids obtained from hair after saponification have been identified as integral lipids and include cholesterol sulphate, fatty alcohols and acids. Human hair lipids contribute to 5-7% of the total weight. The aim of this work was to determine the lipid gradient of human hair from the base to the tip in normal conditions. For this purpose a bulk of 20 hairs from 10 healthy subjects, all females, were cut from the vertix; hair lenght ranged from I6 to 20 cm. hair samples had not been washed for 72 hours. The hairs were cut into 4cm lenghts from base to tip. After conditioning at 30-35% relative humidity for 24 hours, each 4 cm lenght was weighed and processed for lipid extraction (ref. I). Quantity and composition of tbe different lipid pools were determined gtavitometrically, by thin layer chromatography and by computerized densitometry according to ref. 1. The results obtained indicated that: a hair’s total weight increases towards the tip as does the amount of extracted lipids; the percentage of lipids in the total weight

Postem

ranges from 2% at the base to 6% at the tip. We can conclude that hair near the base contain far less lipids from sebaceous origin than the tip indicating a process of apposition of fatty acids, triglycerides, wax esters and squalene along hair lenght by contact with scalp. References [I] Biochimica and Biophysics Acta. II82 (1993), pp 147-151

IPi77

The role of trichogram diseases

in hair and scalp

A. Kokttirk, Y.G. Denli, H.R. MemiSoglu, M.A. Acar. Qrkttrova University, Dermatology, Adatta,

Factthy Tttrkey

of Medicitte,

Departrttettt

of

The aim of this study was to determine the contributions of trichogram in understanding if there was really a hair loss; having knowledge about type and prognose of the hair loss by obtaining information about hair cycle dynamics; clarifying existing hair anomalies for patients who had congenital and acquired hair shaft anomalies; differentiating types of alopecia which were difficult to differentiate in clinical manner; in patients who applied to our clinic complaining from alopecia. For this purpose, between May 1996 and May 1997 a total of 160 patients (I I4 women and 46 men) who applied to our clinic complaining from hair loss and congenital anomalies related with hair, had been studied without considering of age and sexuality. An amount of 50-100 hair roots taken from the patients, had been examined under a light microscope with x40 magnification. The findings recorded after percentaging of the physiological and pathological hair roots and determination of trichogram types at microscopic examination were as follows: Telogen, dystrophic and mixed trichogram had been observed both in diffuse alopecia and in alopecia areata; telogen trichogram was characteristic in androgenetic alopecia; in cicatricial alopecia dystrophic; in congenital alopecia besides dystrophic and normal trichogram some shaft anomalies were observed. Also it has been understood that, in alopecia areata and diffuse alopecia, trichogram could give considerable information about intensity of etiologic factor and prognose of alopecia. As a conclusion, trichogram provides limited help in differentiating the specific diagnosis of alopecia types with various aetiologies; it’s a method having considerable contributions in approaching to hair and hair diseases as a guide in diagnosis and therapy with its easy, quick and cheap application. 1Pi78 1 Trichorrhexis rubbing

nodosa

arising

D.K. Chun, SM. Seok. Seotrl Paik Hospital, University,

Seoul,

from habitual Seoul National

Korea

37-year-old man visited our clinic with the complaints of coarse and easily broken hairs. He had a habit of rubbing his occipital hairs when emotionally unstable. Light microscopic examination under polarized light showed alternate light and black zones. Scanning electron microscopy showed longitudinal fissuring of the cuticle, with transverse fracture of the shaft. The diagnosis of localized trichorrhexis nodosa (TN) was made, and he was advised not to rub or wash his hairs too often.

s227

- Hair

TN denotes small node-like swellings with a loss of the cuticle of the hair shaft. TN is known to develop mostly as a consequence of trauma such as scratching, and should be considered as a marker of pruritus (Francisco, 1989). In our case, however, we experienced that TN could develop from rubbing, but without any complaint of pruritus. TN is known to be the most common of all hair shaft anomalies, but is only rarely reported, which might be due to under-diagnosis of this disorder. The terminology of TN represents “nodose tearing of hair” without any mention of hair colors. But in clinical practice, the gross morphology shows regularly spaced “whitish small dots or specks”. We speculated that the diagnostic difficulty in clinical practice lies in the discrepancy between the terminology and gross morphologic findings. 1P179 1 Modifications of viral serology areata patients

in alopecia

R. Cosgareat, T. Perseca”, R. Rebreanuz, N. Maiert . ’ Departtttetrt Chtj-Napoca,

of Dertnatology; Rotttattia

‘Medical

Cetttrefor

Health,

The aim of this study was to determine viral serology for herpes virusiHSV, cytomegalovirus/CMV, influenza viruses AH IN I, AH2N2, AH3N2, B, in alopecia areata AA patients. Thirty eight patients who exhibited patches, total or universal AA were tested. Anti-HSV I (indirect immunofluotescence), anti-CMV (Elisa) and anti flu viruses (inhibition of ted cell agglutination) antibodies/ah were determined. There were found in high titres anti-HSVl ab in 73.6% patients p = 0.54, anti-CMVab in 84.28, p = 0.58, anti fluvirus ab in 26%. Though there is no statistical significance in the results of the serological tests, the high titte presence of anti HSV and anti-CMV ab, compared to the witness group, indicates a potential involvement of the viruses. It is possible that the persistence of these herpesviruses in various anatomical structures as cranial or cervical ganglions, salivary glands where from they reactivate, sometimes not clinically manifest, to play a special role in AA recurrence.

IPI80

Tufted hair folliculitis

J. Jeremias, D. Soler, A. Gimenez-Amau, Departtnettt Uttiversitat

J.G. Camarasa.

of Dertnatolog); Hospital de1 Mac Aut6ttotna, Barcelotra, Spain

IMIM,

Tufted hair folliculitis, described by Smith and Sanderson in 1978, is defined by scarring alopecia with tufts of hairs emerging from single follicular holes. Although Staphylococcus n1~ren.sseems to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this condition the main aethiological factor remains unknown. A 34 year-old man with an erythematous, exudative and pruriginous plaque of ten centimeters diameter located on the right occipital scalp from three years is presented. Physical examination showed multiple bundles of hairs emerging from single dilated follicular openings. Tufts of hair only appeared over inflammatory changes. Fungal cultures were negative but in bacterial cultures grew Stapltvlocctrs amw. Pathologic findings showed multiple hair shafts emerging from a single follicular opening. The structure of each hair papilla was normal. Previous empirical treatments with antibiotics and antifungals were unsuccessfull. Only isotretinoin combinated