ArticleBMC veterinary research2026
Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations are not reduced in Pomeranian dogs with Alopecia X: a case-control study.
Article in BMC veterinary research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundAlopecia X (AX)-also referred to as hair cycle arrest or Alopecia X-like syndrome-is a non-inflammatory disorder common in Pomeranians, though it frequently affects other breeds such as Alaskan Malamutes, Chow Chows, Schipperkes, and Poodles. Historically known by various names including growth hormone-responsive alopecia, castration-responsive alopecia and congenital adrenal hyperplasia-like syndrome, this condition represents a complex follicular arrest of "plush-coated" breeds. The etiopathogenesis remains unclear, and reliable, minimally invasive diagnostic biomarkers are lacking. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is essential for hair follicle cycling, and systemic deficiency has been hypothesized to contribute to canine alopecia. This study aimed to determine if serum IGF-1 concentrations differ between Pomeranian dogs with AX and healthy controls, and to evaluate the effect of neuter status on IGF-1 levels.
resultsThirty client-owned Pomeranian dogs (11 AX, 19 healthy controls) were enrolled. Serum IGF-1 concentrations were measured via a human competitive ELISA kit validated in-house for canine samples. Data were non-normally distributed and analyzed via Mann-Whitney U tests. No significant difference in serum IGF-1 was detected between alopecic (median: 62.0 ng/mL; range: 7.31-151) and healthy dogs (median: 51.8 ng/mL; range: 7.43-209.76) (U = 74, p = 0.200). Neuter status was significantly imbalanced between groups (63.6% of cases neutered vs. 10.5% of controls, p = 0.002). While neutered dogs exhibited numerically higher mean IGF-1 values than intact dogs within the alopecic group, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.412). No correlation was found between IGF-1 and age or body weight.
conclusionsSerum IGF-1 concentrations are not reduced in Pomeranian dogs with Alopecia X compared to healthy controls. Routine measurement of serum IGF-1 is not recommended as a diagnostic test for AX. The role of gonadectomy in modulating the GH/IGF-1 axis in this breed requires further investigation with larger, balanced cohorts.
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