Assessment of Serum Ferritin Levels in Female Patients With Telogen Effluvium

Background Telogen effluvium (TE) is a non-scarring form of diffuse hair loss characterized by premature transition of hair follicles into the telogen phase, resulting in excessive shedding. Iron deficiency, reflected by low serum ferritin levels, is considered a potential contributor to TE in women. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate serum ferritin levels in female patients with TE and compare them with controls. Methods A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted involving 100 female participants - 50 diagnosed with TE and 50 healthy controls. Serum ferritin and hemoglobin levels were measured in both groups. Demographic, lifestyle, hormonal, and clinical variables were recorded to account for potential confounders. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York), employing independent t-tests for continuous variables and Chi-squared tests for categorical variables. Results Mean serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in TE cases (24.30 ± 11.13 ng/mL) compared to controls (44.78 ± 19.89 ng/mL; p<0.001). Reduced ferritin levels (<15 ng/mL) were observed in 14 (28%) TE cases, while none of the controls exhibited such deficiencies. Additionally, 31 (62%) TE cases demonstrated significant hair shedding, with a positive hair pull test in the same proportion. Conclusion Low serum ferritin levels are significantly associated with telogen effluvium in women. Serum ferritin may serve as a useful biomarker for identifying iron deficiency in patients presenting with diffuse hair loss.