SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING RESPONSE TO MINOXIDIL FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA

摘要

Methods, processes, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for predicting minoxidil response in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia based on colorimetric assay for sulfotransferase activity. In particular, SULT1A1 activity may be used as an indicator of minoxidil response. A genetic test for alleles of the SULT1A1 gene may be performed to provide a more personalized therapy.

主权项

1. A method for selecting a treatment for a human subject suffering from androgenetic alopecia, comprising:
obtaining a sample from the human subject, comprising one or more hairs that have been plucked from the human subject, said hairs comprising one or more hair follicles; performing a colorimetric assay to measure a sulfotransferase enzyme activity in the sample, thereby generating an activity value indicative of the sulfotransferase activity level in the sample, wherein the assay comprises the step of placing the sample in a reaction mixture comprising an indicator dye and minoxidil, and wherein during the assay, the indicator dye undergoes a color change that correlates with the amount of sulfotransferase activity level in the sample, and wherein the activity value correlates with said color change; comparing the activity value to one or more standardized activity values, each standardized activity value representing either high or low expected minoxidil response for hair re-growth or retention for a class of human subjects including the human subject, thereby producing an indication of either high or low expected minoxidil response for hair re-growth or retention for the human subject at a particular dosage and form of minoxidil; and presenting the indication to the human subject.