Original lead investigator left Northwestern University

This study will investigate whether subjects who suffer from hair loss have increased levels of PAI-1 compared to age-matched control subjects. The level of PAI-1 expression will be determined in subjects without hair loss and in subjects with non-scarring hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and alopecia areata.

This study will compare the levels of PAI-1 expression in subjects with different forms of non-scarring hair loss and in these subjects vs normal age-matched controls. Hair loss subjects will have their Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation medical records reviewed to ensure they meet inclusion and exclusion criteria. All subjects will have a 4 mm punch biopsy on the scalp. Tissue PAI-1 levels from scalp skin biopsies will be determined by immunohistochemical staining. Samples will be kept for approximately 15 years, after which time unused samples will be destroyed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age-matched control subjects who do not have a history of hair loss
• A clinical and pathologic diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, alopecia areata or normal scalp skin
• All subjects must have given signed, informed consent prior to registration in study

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of previous hair transplantation
• Current and past use of medications topically on the scalp
• Clinical or pathologic diagnosis of a scarring alopecia
• History of inflammatory conditions of the scalp such as psoriasis

All hair loss subjects will be recruited from patients seen at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation physicians offices. Age-matched control subjects will be recruited by either 1) the use of flyers displayed in the hospital and surrounding community, or 2) will be identified during a clinic visit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation physician offices.