ASSAYS FOR PREDICTING AND ASSESSING PREDISPOSITION TO MALE PATTERN BALDNESS

1 . A method of predicting the likelihood that a subject will develop alopecia, comprising:

(a) determining a presence of a nerve dwelling virus in a subject;

(b) determining a level of at least one of 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 5α-reductase, or testosterone in the subject;

(c) comparing the level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 5α-reductase, or testosterone determined from step (b) to a predetermined value; and

(d) predicting alopecia or a predisposition to alopecia in the subject, wherein an elevated level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 5α-reductase, or testosterone in comparison to the predetermined value and the presence of the nerve dwelling virus is indicative of an increased likelihood of the subject developing alopecia.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve dwelling virus is herpes simplex virus.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the presence of the nerve dwelling virus in the subject is determined by an assay selected from

(a) an immunological assay;

(b) a polymerase chain reaction assay; or

(c) an RNA-DNA microarray assay.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 5α-reductase, or testosterone in the subject is determined by an assay selected from

(a) an immunological assay;

(b) a polymerase chain reaction assay; or

(c) an RNA-DNA microarray assay.

5 . A method for identifying an individual as a candidate for treatment of androgenetic alopecia, comprising:

(a) obtaining a positive test result for a herpes simplex virus in an individual;

(b) determining the level of at least one of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase;

(c) comparing the level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase to a predetermined value; and

(d) characterizing the individual as a candidate for treatment of androgenetic alopecia based upon a positive test result in step (a) and an elevated level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase in comparison to the predetermined value.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the herpes simplex virus is HSV-1.

7 . A method for identifying a male subject infected with herpes simplex virus as a candidate for treatment of androgenetic alopecia, comprising:

(a) measuring a level of at least one of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase in a male subject infected with herpes simplex virus;

(b) comparing the level measured in step (a) to a reference, wherein a level above the reference indicates that the male subject is a candidate for treatment of androgenetic alopecia.

8 . A method of managing a treatment of androgenetic alopecia in a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the presence of active herpes simplex virus replication in a subject;

(b) measuring a level of at least one of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase in the subject;

(c) comparing the level from step (b) to a predetermined value; and

(d) adjusting the treatment of the subject to suppress replication of the herpes simplex virus or to reduce the level of at least one of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the herpes simplex virus is HSV-1.

10 . A kit for predicting or monitoring androgenetic alopecia in a subject, comprising:

(a) at least one reagent for detecting herpes simplex virus in a biological sample;

(b) at least one reagent for detecting or measuring the level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone or 5α-reductase in a biological sample;

(c) a reference standard for the assay of step (b);

(d) a set of instructions describing how to assay the biological samples; and

(e) a chart for determining the likelihood of the subject developing androgenetic alopecia based upon the test results obtained from the biological samples.

11 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein the herpes simplex virus is HSV-1.

12 . The kit of claim 10 , wherein the kit comprises at least one collection device.