Introduction: Both Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
shared the microinflammatory milieu and increased oxidative stress as important criteria in their
pathogenesis. The monocyte/high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (MHR) seems to be an easy-to-calculate
prognostic marker of microinflammation.
Objectives: To assess MHR in patients with AGA and its correlation to AMD in these patients, if any.
Methods: Forty patients with AGA aged 40 years or more of both sexes and 40 control subjects participated
in this case-control study. General, dermatological, and ophthalmologic examination, MHR
evaluation and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed.
Results: The mean MHR was significantly higher in AGA patients (6.98 ± 2.21) than in controls
(3.82 ± 0.68) (P < 0.001). AMD was significantly higher in patients than controls (P < 0.001). Eighty
percent of AGA patients were diagnosed with AMD versus 20% of control subjects. The presence of
AMD in AGA was significantly related to the degree of severity of AGA in male patients (P = 0.02).
The MHR was significantly higher in AGA patients found to have AMD (9.37 ± 1.1 and 7.01 ± 1.42
in the wet and dry type respectively) than those without AMD (P < 0.001).