Veterinary Dermatology 2003, 14, 91 97

Retrospective evaluation of sex hormones and steroid hormone

intermediates in dogs with alopecia

Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

LINDA A. FRANK*, KEITH A. HNILICA*, BARTON W. ROHRBACH and

JACK W. OLIVER
*Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Department of Large Animal
Clinical Sciences, Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Tennessee,
Knoxville, TN 37996-4544, USA
(Received 7 October 2002; accepted 30 November 2002)

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if there are specific steroid hormone aberrations associated
with suspect endocrine alopecias in dogs in whom hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism have been excluded.
Steroid hormone panels submitted to the UTCVM endocrinology laboratory over a 7.5-year period (783 samples)
from dogs with alopecia were reviewed. During this period, 276 dogs met the criteria for inclusion and were comprised of 54 different breeds. Approximately 73% of dogs had at least one baseline or post-ACTH stimulation
steroid hormone intermediate greater than the normal range. The most frequent hormone elevation noted was
for progesterone (57.6% of samples). When compared with normal dogs, oestradiol was significantly greater in
Keeshond dogs and progesterone was significantly greater in Pomeranian and Siberian Husky dogs. Not all individual dogs had hormone abnormalities. Chow Chow, Samoyed and Malamute dogs had the greatest percentage
of normal steroid hormone intermediates of the dogs in this study. Baseline cortisol concentrations were significantly correlated with progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione. Results of this
study suggest that the pathomechanism of the alopecia, at least for some breeds, may not relate to steroid hormone
intermediates and emphasizes the need for breed specific normals.
Keywords: adrenal hyperplasia-like syndrome, Alopecia X, dogs, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, sex
hormones, steroid hormone intermediates.

INTRODUCTION
Symmetrical alopecia is a common problem in dogs.
When faced with this presentation, one considers
hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, sex hormone
abnormalities such as hyperestrogenism, and more
recently, adrenal hyperplasia-like syndrome.1,2 The
latter syndrome has gone by the names of hyposomatotropism, growth hormone responsive dermatosis,
pseudo-Cushings syndrome, castration responsive
dermatosis, biopsy responsive dermatosis and woolly
syndrome. Many dermatologists have begun referring
to this syndrome as Alopecia X.1 This condition is
seen most commonly in breeds such as Poodles, plushcoated dogs such as Pomeranians, Chow Chows,
Samoyeds and Keeshonds.1,2 The alopecia occurs in
young adult dogs and occurs equally in males and
females, intact or neutered. Clinical signs consist of
loss of guard hairs progressing to complete alopecia of
the neck, tail, caudodorsum, perineum, caudal thighs
and ultimately trunk. In addition to hair loss, the skin
may become intensely hyperpigmented.2 Although

Correspondence: Linda Frank, Department of Small Animal

Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee, C247 Veterinary Teaching
Hospital, Knoxville, TN 37996-4544, USA. E-mail: lfrank@utk.edu
This study was funded by the Companion Animal Fund.
2003 European Society of Veterinary Dermatology

systemic illness is not associated with this disease, the

loss of hair is unsightly and causes great concern to
the owner.
The pathomechanism of the alopecia is not known.
Schmeitzel & Lothrop3 first proposed the relationship
of the bilateral alopecia and hyperpigmentation in
Pomeranian dogs to an adrenal steroid hormone
imbalance. Little work has been done since this study
to further evaluate their hypothesis or to see if similar
hormonal imbalances exist in the other breeds recognized to develop this condition.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate steroid
hormone panels submitted to the Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory at the University of Tennessee
College of Veterinary Medicine over a 7.5-year period,
from dogs with suspect endocrine alopecia in whom
hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism have been
excluded, to determine if there are steroid hormonal
aberrations specific for this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dogs
Serum samples from dogs with alopecia that were submitted to the endocrinology laboratory between January 1993 and April 2000 for steroid hormone analysis
(adrenal panel) were evaluated. For the dog to be
91

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L. A. Frank et al.

included in the final analysis, complete information

about the dogs age, sex, neuter status and breed was
required; hypothyroidism had to have been ruled out
based on normal T4/TSH or lack of response to thyroid supplementation; and cortisol concentration postACTH stimulation must have been < 200 ng mL1. For
those dogs with incomplete information, questionnaires were sent to their veterinarians in order to maximize the number of dogs included in the study.
Samples
Both baseline and post-ACTH stimulation serum and
plasma samples from all dogs that were evaluated for
progesterone (Progesterone [125I] RIA, Diagnostic
Products Corp., Los Angeles, CA), 17-OH progesterone (17-OHP [125I] RIA, ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc.,
Costa Mesa, CA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
(DHEAS [125I] RIA, ICN Pharmaceuticals), androstenedione (Androstenedione [125I] RIA, ICN Pharmaceuticals), oestradiol (Estradiol 17-Beta [125I] RIA,
ICN Pharmaceuticals) and cortisol (Cortisol [125I]
RIA, Diagnostic Products) were included in the analysis. These assays have been validated for dogs.4,5 Testosterone was not evaluated because of a change in
manufacturer and normal values during the study
period. Recent studies also indicate a low incidence of
association between increases of testosterone and this
condition.6
Data analysis
For individual dogs, it was determined whether the
hormone concentrations were greater than the normal
hormone ranges recently established for each sex.5
These numbers were then tabulated as to percentage
dogs with abnormalities for a given hormone. In addition, for breeds represented by at least 7 dogs, data was
analysed using a statistical software package ( 2.0 for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Hormone values were tested for normal distribution. Data
were summarized using the median and range. A nonparametric KruskalWallis was used to detect
differences in baseline and post-stimulation hormone
values among the breeds and in comparison with a
population of normal dogs. Values were considered
significant if P < 0.05. Because only one breed in the
intact group (Pomeranian) was represented by more
than three dogs, was limited to neutered dogs.
Spearman correlation was used to correlate both baseline and post-stimulation cortisol to baseline and poststimulation concentrations of the other hormones,
respectively, for all neutered dogs (, Version 8e, SAS
Institute Inc., Cary, NC).

RESULTS
Seven hundred and eighty-three samples were reviewed.
A total of 276 dogs met the criteria for inclusion (7
intact females, 32 intact males, 134 spayed females and
103 neutered males) and were comprised of 54 different

Table 1. Percentage of dogs with steroid hormone intermediates

greater than the normal range*
Hormone

Base (%)

Oestradiol
34/276 (12.3)
Progesterone
122/276 (44.2)
17-OHP
49/276 (17.8)
DHEAS**
15/276 (5.4)
Androstenedione 49/276 (17.8)

Post (%)

Base or
Post (%)

34/276 (12.3) 43/276 (15.6)

100/276 (36.2) 159/276 (57.6)
19/276 (6.9)
57/276 (20.7)
16/276 (5.8)
17/276 (6.2)
6/276 (2.2)
50/276 (18.1)

*See Table 2 for normal ranges.

Percentage of dogs with increases in baseline hormone
concentrations.
Percentage of dogs with increases in post-ACTH stimulation
hormone concentrations.
Percentage of dogs with increases in baseline or post-ACTH
stimulation hormone concentrations.
17-Hydroxyprogesterone.
**Dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

breeds. In this study, 73.2% of dogs had at least one

adrenal steroid hormone greater than the normal
range. The most frequent hormone elevations were
noted in baseline and/or post-stimulation progesterone
(57.6% of samples; Table 1).
For the neutered male and female dogs, breeds
represented by seven or more dogs included American
Eskimo (n = 7), Chow Chow (n = 14), Cocker Spaniel
(n = 7), Siberian Husky (n = 7), Keeshond (n = 12),
Malamute (n = 8), Pomeranian (n = 63), Poodle (n = 15)
and Samoyed (n = 8). In addition there were 21 mixedbreed dogs. The median age of the Cocker Spaniels
(9 years; range 514 years) was greater than that of
the other breeds, with significance occurring between
the Cocker Spaniel and Pomeranian (4.5 years; range
113 years, P < 0.001) and between the Cocker Spaniel
and Chow Chow (6 years; range 1.512 years, P <
0.05).
Significant differences in both baseline and poststimulation oestradiol (P < 0.001), progesterone (P <
0.001), 17-OHP (P < 0.001) and DHEAS (P < 0.001)
hormones were detected among the breeds and/or
as compared with normal dogs. The median baseline
oestradiol concentration was significantly greater in
Keeshonds than in Chow Chows, Cocker Spaniels,
Malamutes, Pomeranians and normal dogs (Table 2).
Median post-stimulation oestradiol was significantly
greater in Keeshonds than in Chow Chows (Table 3).
Both Pomeranians and Siberian Huskies had significantly greater median baseline progesterone than normal dogs (Table 2). Median post-stimulation progesterone
was only significantly greater in Pomeranians than
Samoyeds, but did not differ significantly from normal
(Table 3). Median baseline 17-OHP was significantly
greater in Poodles than in Malamutes but was not
significantly different from normal dogs (Table 2).
Median post-stimulation 17-OHP was significantly
greater in Pomeranians and Poodles than in Siberian
Huskies, but did not differ significantly from normal
dogs (Table 3). Cocker Spaniels had significantly greater
median concentration of baseline DHEAS than did
Chow Chows, but did not differ significantly from

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Steroid hormone intermediates in dogs

93

Table 2. Median (25 75th percentile) baseline concentrations of cortisol (ng mL1) and steroid hormone intermediates (ng mL1)
Breed
Normal*
American Eskimo
Chow Chow

N
60
7
14

Cocker Spaniel

Siberian Husky

Keeshond

12

Malamute

Pomeranian

63

Poodle

15

Samoyed

Normal range*

Cortisol
a

12.5
(7.2 19.6)
49.9b
(23.6 92.2)
30.8
(12.3 54.3)
32.2
(27.9 44.2)
35.0
(21.8 61.0)
32.6
(13.2 50.9)
24.4
(18.2 35.5)
55.5b
(26.6 74.0)
65.3b
(33.6 83.8)
32.8
(15.8 56.3)
2.2 58.8

Oestradiol (pg mL1)

a

45.47
(38.35 56.64)
51.00
(40.88 65.63)
41.95a
(33.20 50.80)
49.60a
(43.13 53.23)
60.30
(38.88 62.85)
67.10b
(61.10 83.40)
44.15a
(30.45 47.60)
42.47a
(32.20 53.40)
43.90
(34.86 65.83)
47.65
(45.20 52.94)
29.00 69.60

Progesterone
a

0.04
(0.02 0.08)
0.19
(0.10 0.52)
0.17
(0.04 0.35)
0.22
(0.08 0.29)
0.22b
(0.17 0.32)
0.23
(0.10 0.36)
0.07
(0.05 0.11)
0.31b
(0.10 0.61)
0.21
(0.07 0.44)
0.16
(0.03 0.30)
0.01 0.19

17-OHP
0.10
(0.06 0.20)
0.16
(0.07 0.44)
0.07
(0.04 0.10)
0.15
(0.05 0.25)
0.06
(0.03 0.10)
0.13
(0.07 0.26)
0.05a
(0.02 0.07)
0.19
(0.10 0.35)
0.27b
(0.16 0.43)
0.06
(0.02 0.19)
0.03 0.37

DHEAS
a

4.2
(3.11 6.63)
2.91
(2.04 3.74)
1.67b
(1.04 2.18)
6.52a,c
(5.3014.58)
2.60
(1.50 4.27)
3.87
(3.52 6.16)
2.60
(1.97 5.32)
2.04
(1.43 3.35)
2.00
(1.69 2.42)
3.45
(2.14 5.70)
2.00 15.91

Androstenedione
2.25
(1.30 3.15)
1.58
(1.23 2.11)
1.74
(0.61 4.28)
1.89
(1.08 3.06)
1.80
(1.67 7.35)
1.46
(1.01 2.25)
1.59
(1.23 3.94)
2.93
(1.55 7.20)
2.77
(1.56 9.73)
2.47
(1.31 3.86)
0.70 5.85

*Normal values determined on 30 spayed female and 30 neutered male dogs of various breeds and ages. 5
a,b,c
Differing letters indicate significant difference P < 0.05.

Table 3. Median (2575th percentile) post-ACTH stimulation concentrations of cortisol (ng mL 1) and steroid hormone intermediates (ng mL1)
Breed

Cortisol

Oestradiol (pg mL1)

Progesterone

17-OHP

DHEAS

Androstenedione

Normal*

60

101.4
(84.9 116.9)
135.0
(115.4 149.5)
111.0
(87.7 137.0)
71.1
(50.9 124.8)
74.4a
(73.3 94.5)
111.5
(83.2 159.1)
130.1
(97.6 141.0)
136.6b
(112.7 161.5)
136.0
(111.4 156.7)
111.2
(100.5 163.7)
70.55 167.50

45.44
(37.05 54.06)
46.3
(35.58 63.85)
33.45a
(28.20 42.70)
45.90
(41.95 51.70)
50.70
(42.73 63.90)
62.20
(59.60 78.90)
42.30
(31.85 48.95)
39.50
(31.20 49.50)
38.30
(29.85 53.65)
48.50
(38.25 54.41)
25.70 69.20

0.86
(0.59 1.13)
1.40
(1.05 2.59)
1.48
(0.73 1.75)
0.90
(0.56 1.20)
0.66
(0.55 1.16)
1.00
(0.55 2.24)
1.08
(0.44 1.51)
1.85a
(1.09 2.47)
2.10
(0.94 2.53)
0.61b
(0.35 1.02)
0.31 1.48

1.03
(0.68 1.28)
1.10
(0.55 2.61)
0.65
(0.43 0.96)
0.79
(0.59 1.13)
0.30a
(0.17 0.39)
0.77
(0.53 2.29)
0.55
(0.34 1.18)
1.25b
(0.87 2.00)
1.42b
(0.65 2.08)
0.39
(0.18 1.03)
0.32 2.76

7.74
(5.18 9.97)
4.63
(2.72 7.55)
2.74
(2.37 3.23)
7.90
(5.63 15.02)
2.54
(1.55 3.45)
6.63
( 4.52 9.26)
4.03
(3.15 7.83)
3.25
(2.50 5.01)
2.80
(2.23 4.18)
4.35
(3.29 6.39)
3.50 18.64

13.00
(10.20 22.85)
3.1
(1.52 3.39)
4.92
(1.14 12.00)
3.11
(2.71 5.65)
8.50
(3.25 9.96)
2.54
(1.79 3.26)
3.19
(1.73 12.01)
6.49
(2.89 17.10)
7.60
(1.88 19.73)
3.11
(1.47 5.57)
5.90 47.60

American Eskimo
Chow Chow

7
14

Cocker Spaniel

Siberian Husky

Keeshond

12

Malamute

Pomeranian

63

Poodle

15

Samoyed
Normal range*

*Normal values determined on 30 spayed female and 30 neutered male dogs of various breeds and ages. 5
a,b,c
Differing letters indicate significant difference P < 0.05.

normal dogs. Median baseline DHEAS of Chow

Chows was significantly less than normal dogs. There
were no significant differences detected in pairwise comparisons in post-stimulation DHEAS concentration
and for baseline or post-stimulation androstenedione
(Tables 1 and 2).
Not all dogs in a given breed had abnormal sex
hormone concentrations associated with alopecia. No
Malamutes had increases in baseline progesterone and
only two had slight increases in post-stimulation progesterone. Although five Siberian Huskies had increases
in baseline progesterone, all Siberian Huskies had

post-stimulation progesterone within normal range.

Of breeds represented by at least seven dogs, Chow
Chows, Samoyeds and Malamutes had the greatest
percentage of dogs with both normal baseline and
post-stimulation adrenal hormone concentrations
with 35.7, 50 and 62.5%, respectively.
American Eskimos, Pomeranians and Poodles had
significantly greater median baseline cortisol than normal dogs (P < 0.05; Table 2). Median post-stimulation
cortisol of Pomeranians was significantly greater than
that of Siberian Huskies (P < 0.05) but did not differ
from normal dogs (Table 3).

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L. A. Frank et al.

Baseline cortisol concentrations were significantly

correlated with baseline concentrations of progesterone
(r = 0.53, P < 0.0001), 17-OHP (r = 0.66, P < 0.0001),
and androstenedione (r = 0.41, P < 0.0001). Because
individual breeds were comprised of variable numbers of dogs, the following baseline hormone concentrations were significantly correlated to baseline
cortisol concentrations for the breed: American
Eskimo, progesterone (r = 0.75, P = 0.05), 17-OHP
(r = 0.81, P = 0.01); Keeshond, progesterone (r = 0.64,
P = 0.02), 17-OHP (r = 0.53, P = 0.08); Malamute, 17OHP (r = 0.66, P = 0.08); Pomeranian, progesterone
(r = 0.65, P < 0.0001), 17-OHP (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001),
androstenedione (r = 0.52, P < 0.0001); Poodle, 17OHP (r = 0.47, P = 0.08); Samoyed, 17-OHP (r = 0.92,
P = 0.001), androstenedione (r = 0.88, P < 0.01). Poststimulation cortisol concentrations were also significantly correlated with post-stimulation concentrations
of progesterone (r = 0.47, P < 0.0001) and 17-OHP
(0.43, P < 0.0001).

DISCUSSION
The most common causes of symmetrical alopecia in
dogs are endocrinopathies, with hypothyroidism and
hyperadrenocorticism being most frequent.1 Other
endocrine causes of symmetrical alopecia include sexhormone and adrenal imbalances.7,8 The mechanism
of the alopecia for all of these conditions is thought to
relate to the effect of hormones on the hair follicle,
inhibiting the normal cyclic pattern of hair growth.1
Adrenal hyperplasia-like syndrome (Alopecia X)
occurs frequently in young adult Poodles and plushcoated breeds.1,2 Eight breeds represented by at least
seven dogs in our study met these criteria and included
American Eskimo, Chow Chow, Siberian Husky, Keeshond, Malamute, Pomeranian, Poodle and Samoyed.
The surprise breed was the Cocker Spaniel, which is
not a breed in which this condition is typically seen.
Interestingly, the median age of the Cocker Spaniel
dogs was 9 years, greater than that seen for the other
breeds. The reason for this breeds representation is
unexplained.
The alopecia associated with adrenal hyperplasialike syndrome has been classified as an endocrine
alopecia,1 although the exact pathomechanism of the
alopecia is uncertain. Schmeitzel & Lothrop3 first
proposed the relationship of the bilateral alopecia and
hyperpigmentation in Pomeranians to an adrenal sex
hormone imbalance. Seven abnormal and 12 normal
intact Pomeranians were evaluated. Both abnormal
and normal dogs had abnormal adrenal steroid
intermediates and sex hormone concentrations compared with 19 mixed-breed dogs. Most notable was the
elevation of 17-OHP in these dogs. The authors theorized that there may be a partial deficiency of the
21-hydroxylase enzyme, as described in people with
congenital adrenal hyperplasia, that may account for the
laboratory and clinical findings. This increase in

17-OHP would provide more substrate for the formation of androstenedione and subsequently, oestradiol.
In people with late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, clinical signs are associated with hyperandrogenism and may include premature development of pubic
hair in children, hirsutism in women, early fusion of
epiphyseal growth plates and severe cystic acne.9 In
addition, male-pattern baldness may be the sole presenting symptom in young women.9 This latter presentation has been theorized to be what is occurring in
these Pomeranians; however, testosterone is seldom
elevated in these dogs.6 Diagnosis in people is based
on increases of 17-OHP concentration post-ACTH
stimulation.9,10
The pattern of sex hormone and steroid hormone
intermediate elevations as described by Schmeitzel &
Lothrop3 is similar to our findings in Pomeranians and
Poodles as a group, with both breeds having elevated
mean baseline and post-stimulation progesterone and
17-OHP. A similar hormone pattern was also noted
with American Eskimo and Keeshond dogs. Only
Pomeranians and Siberian Huskies, however, had significantly greater baseline progesterone than normal
dogs and only Poodles had significantly greater baseline
17-OHP than Malamutes. Post-stimulation progesterone was only significantly greater in Pomeranians than
in Samoyeds and post-stimulation 17-OHP was only
significantly greater in Pomeranians and Poodles when
compared with Siberian Huskies. It is important to
note that lack of statistical differences may reflect the
small numbers of dogs representing certain breeds and
not a true lack of significant difference. The characteristic elevation of post-ACTH stimulation 17-OHP, as
described in Pomeranians with adrenal hyperplasialike syndrome, was not seen in any Chow Chows,
Cocker Spaniels, Siberian Huskies, Malamutes or
Samoyeds. Baseline 17-OHP was increased in one dog
from each of Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel and Malamute breed groups. In fact, baseline or post-stimulation
17-OHP was only increased in 20.7% of the dogs, with
the majority of increases (17.8%) occurring in baseline
samples.
The most common abnormality noted in our study
was increased baseline and/or post-stimulation progesterone. Over 57% of the dogs had progesterone concentrations outside the normal range (36% had increased
post-stimulation progesterone). The action of progesterone on hair growth has not been defined. Hyperprogesteronemia was associated with alopecia in a dog
with Sertoli cell tumour.11 Progesterone has been
shown to bind to the glucocorticoid receptor in the
dog,12 and glucocorticoids can block hair growth,13
suggesting one mechanism of the alopecia. In addition,
progesterone can cross-react with the testosterone
receptor.14 The net affect could be either androgenic or
anti-androgenic. Hyperandrogenism has been uncommonly associated with alopecia in dogs1,8 and has been
shown to delay initiation of hair growth in mice.15 In
people, androgenic alopecia is a result of a decrease in
the duration of the anagen phase and progressive

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Steroid hormone intermediates in dogs

miniaturization of the follicle, ultimately resulting
in a decrease in follicular density and balding.16,17
Conversely, testosterone also promotes hair growth
and differentiation.16 Thus, an anti-androgenic effect
of progesterone could be inhibition of growth of
androgen-dependent hairs.
In people with late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 17-OHP is increased in the face of low to normal cortisol concentrations.18 Elevations in progesterone
and/or 17-OHP have been described in four dogs with
hyperadrenocorticism associated with adrenal tumours
in which cortisol concentrations were within normal
limits or low.19,20 The concentrations of these steroid
hormone intermediates were substantially greater than
the upper limits of normal and were associated with
subnormal cortisol concentrations. It was theorized in
one report19 that an adrenal tumour may have a defective pathway for cortisol biosynthesis resulting in an
accumulation of steroid intermediates. In addition to
adrenal tumours, nine dogs with PDH had exaggerated
increases of 17-OHP but normal cortisol concentration post-ACTH stimulation.21
These reports are in contrast to the findings in our
study in which baseline cortisol concentration was
moderately correlated with baseline concentrations of
progesterone (r = 0.53) and 17-OHP (r = 0.66). Breeds
with increased median baseline cortisol concentrations
(American Eskimo, Pomeranian and Poodle) also had
increased median baseline concentrations of progesterone and 17-OHP. A similar correlation, although not
as strong, was noted in post-ACTH stimulation
samples (progesterone [r = 0.47], 17-OHP [r = 0.43]).
Results of a recent study showed that dogs with hypercortisolemia frequently have elevations of steroid
hormone intermediates, supporting this correlation.22 The
only breed (Siberian Husky) with median cortisol concentration post-ACTH stimulation significantly lower
than that of Pomeranians, also had median 17-OHP
post-stimulation significantly lower than that of
Pomeranians. The median post-stimulation progesterone concentration of the Siberian Husky breed was
also substantially lower than the Pomeranian. Baseline
cortisol concentrations are influenced by many factors
and are therefore unreliable indicators of hypercortisolemia.1 It is therefore important to not overinterpret baseline steroid hormone intermediate
concentrations, especially in the face of increased
cortisol concentrations.
The only breed with increased median concentrations of oestradiol was Keeshonds. Without knowing
what is normal for that breed, it is hard to draw conclusions. Oestradiol concentrations have been shown
to vary greatly from an individual dog when multiple
samples were taken over a 6-hour period and 1 month
later,23 making interpretation difficult. Hyperestrogenism, however, has been associated with alopecia in
dogs.1,24,25 Interestingly, oestrogen is a known inhibitor
of anagen.15,26 Blocking the oestrogen receptor in mice
was shown to cause hair follicles to exit telogen and
enter anagen, initiating hair growth.26,27 If oestrogen is

95

important in the pathomechanism of the alopecia in

this syndrome in dogs, it would most likely be at the
receptor level because hyperestrogenism is seen infrequently in other breeds. Recent research is now focusing on oestrogen receptors in canine hair follicles.28
Increased concentrations of androstenedione or
DHEAS occurred less frequently than progesterone.
One reason for this may be the wide range of values
that exist for these hormones in the normal dog.5 Also,
in people, increased concentrations of androgen precursors do not always result in increased concentrations of androgens.29
The hormone abnormalities discussed may be true
abnormalities or simply reflect normal hormone concentrations and variations for a given breed. Further
work is indicated with given breeds to determine their
normal hormone concentration ranges.
It is apparent from this study that there is not a
single hormone abnormality that explains the hair loss
associated with this syndrome. In fact, not all dogs had
abnormal sex hormone concentrations. In this study,
26.8% of the dogs had normal hormone panels. Chow
chows, Malamutes and Samoyeds were breeds with the
greatest percentage of dogs with normal panels, with
35.7, 50 and 62.5%, respectively. This may be a result of
a single sampling time which failed to detect actual
abnormalities due to daily fluctuations or due to the
low number of dogs representing these breeds. Being
a retrospective study, it is also possible that some of
the dogs included in the study had other diagnoses such
as pattern baldness, cyclic flank alopecia, postclipping
alopecia, sebaceous adenitis, gonadal neoplasia or
even hypothyroidism or hyperadrenocorticism as a
cause for their alopecia.
Based on our results, there does not appear to be a
single hormone abnormality associated with the hair
loss and not all dogs or breeds of dogs have hormone
alterations. Therefore, until more is known about the
pathomechanism of the alopecia, the authors prefer
referring to this condition as alopecia associated with
follicular arrest rather than equating it with an adrenal
hormone imbalance.

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Rsum Le but de cette tude est de dterminer si des anomalies des hormones strodes existent dans les
alopcies dorigine endocrinienne, hormis lhyperadrnocorticisme et lhypothyrodie. Les dosages dhormones
strodiennes soumis aux laboratoire dendocrinologie de lUTCVM sur une priode de 7.5 ans (783 prlvements) provenant de chiens souffrant dalopcie ont t analyss. Durant cette priode, 276 chiens de 54 races
diffrentes prsentaient les critres dinclusion. Environ 73% des chiens avaient au moins un dosage avant ou aprs
stimulation au dessus des normes. Llvation la plus frquente a t note pour la progestrone (57.6% des
prlvements). En comparaison des chiens normaux, lestradiol tait significativement plus lev chez le keeshond
et la progestrone chez les pomeranians et les siberain husky. Tous les chiens ne prsentaient pas ncessairement
danomalie. Les Chow chow, les Samoyede et les Malamute taient les races avec le moins danomalie. Les taux
de cortisol basal taient significativement corrls avec la progestrone, la 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP),
et landrostenedione. Les rsultats de cette tude suggrent que le mcanisme pathognique de lalopcie, au
moins pour certaines races, nest pas relie un trouble des hormones stroidiennes, et prcise la ncessit davoir
des normes par race.

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Steroid hormone intermediates in dogs

97

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar si existen alteraciones especficas de las hormonas esteroideas asociadas con alopecias endocrinas tras haber excluido un hipotiroidismo y un hiperadrenocorticismo. Se
revisaron perfiles de hormonas esteroideas de perros con alopecia solicitados al laboratorio de endocrinologa
del UTCVM, en un perodo de 7.5 aos (783 muestras). Durante este perodo, 276 perros cumplieron los criterios
de inclusin en el estudio y englobaron 54 razas diferentes. Aproximadamente, un 73% de los perros tenan al
menos un nivel de hormonas esteroideas intermediarias basal o post estimulacin con ACTH superior al rango
normal. La elevacin de hormona ms frecuente fue la progesterona (57.6% de las muestras). Cuando los valores
fueron comparados con perros normales, los niveles de estradiol fueron superiores en perros keeshond y los de
progesterona en pomeranian y Siberian husky. No todos los perros tenan anormalidades hormonales. De todos
los perros en el estudio, los de raza chow chow, samoyedo y malamute presentaron el porcentaje mayor de niveles
normales de hormonas esteroideas intermediarias. Las concentraciones basales de cortisol estuvieron correlacionadas significativamente con la progesterona, 17-hidroxiprogesterona (17-OHP), y androstenediona. Los
resultados de este estudio sugieren que los mecanismos o patognesis de la alopecia, al menos en algunas razas,
pueden no estar relacionados con los intermediarios de las hormonas esteroideas y enfatiza la necesidad de
conocer los valores especficos normales para cada raza.
Zusammenfassung Das Ziel dieser Studie war die Bestimmung von mit vermutlichen hormonellen Erkrankungen
einhergehenden Steroidhormonabnormalitten bei Hunden, bei denen Hypothyreose oder Hyperadrenokortizismus ausgeschlossen worden war. ber einen Zeitraum von 7.5 Jahren wurden beim UTCVM Hormonlaboratorium eingereichte Steroidhormonanalysen von Hunden mit Alopezie berprft. In diesem Zeitraum
entsprachen 276 Hunde von 54 verschiedenen Rassen den Einschlusskriterien. Ungefhr 73% aller Hunde hatten
zumindest einen Basis- oder Post-ACTH-Stimulationswert von einem Steroidzwischenprodukt ber den
Normalwerten. Die hufigste Erhhung eines Hormons wurde bei Progesteron festgestellt (57.6% der Proben).
Verglichen mit normalen Hunden war stradiol beim Keeshond und Progesteron beim Pomeraner und
Sibirischem Husky signifikant erhht. Nicht alle Hunde hatten Hormonabnormalitten. Chow Chow, Samoyede
und Malamut hatten die grsste Anzahl von normalen Steroidzwischenprodukten aller Hunde in dieser Studie.
Kortisolbasiswerte waren signifikant mit Progesteron, 17-hydroxyprogesteron (17-OHP) und Androstenedion
korreliert. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie deuten darauf hin, dass die Pathogenese der Alopezie, zumindest fr
einige Rassen, nicht unbedingt mit Steroidzwischenprodukten in Verbindung steht und betont den Bedarf an
rassenspezifischen Normalwerten.

2003 European Society of Veterinary Dermatology, Veterinary Dermatology, 14, 9197