BACK TO MAIN LISTING Finasteride - A Review of Its Use in Male Pattern Hair Loss. Impotence & Male Health Weekly Plus (Feb 22, 1999):NA.COPYRIGHT 1999 Charles W Henderson Alopecia (Treatment)
Mcclellan, K.J.; Markham, A. "Finasteride - A Review of Its Use in Male Pattern Hair Loss." Drugs, January 1999;57(1):111-126. According to the authors'
abstract of an article published in Drugs, "The 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the androgen responsible for male
pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in genetically predisposed men. Results of Phase III clinical studies in 1,879 men have shown that oral finasteride 1 mg/day promotes hair growth
and prevents further hair loss in a significant proportion of men with male pattern hair loss. Evidence suggests that the improvement in hair count reported after one year is maintained
during two years' treatment. In men with vertex hair loss, global photographs showed improvement in air growth in 48% of finasteride recipients at one year and in 66% at two years compared with
7% of placebo recipients at each time point. Furthermore, hair counts in these men showed that 83% of finasteride versus 28% of placebo recipients had no further hair loss compared with
baseline after two years. The clinical efficacy of oral finasteride has not yet been compared with that of topical minoxidil, the only other drug used clinically in patients with male
pattern hair loss. Therapeutic dosages of finasteride are generally well tolerated. In Phase III studies, 7.7% of patients receiving finasteride 1 mg/day compared with 7.0% of those
receiving placebo reported treatment-related adverse events. The overall incidence of sexual function disorders, comprising decreased libido, ejaculation disorder, and erectile dysfunction,
was significantly greater in finasteride than placebo recipients (3.23 vs. 2.1%). All sexual adverse events were reversed on discontinuation of therapy and many resolved in patients who
continued therapy. No other drug-related events were reported with an incidence > =1% in patients receiving finasteride. Most events were of mild moderate severity. Oral
finasteride is contraindicated in pregnant women because of the risk of hypospadias in male fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: Oral finasteride promotes scalp hair growth and prevents further hair loss
in a significant proportion of men with male pattern hair loss. With its generally good tolerability profile, finasteride is a new approach to the management of this condition, for which
treatment options are few. Its role relative to topical minoxidil has yet to be determined." The corresponding author for this study is: KJ Mcclellan, Adis Int Ltd, 41 Centorian
Dr, Private Bag 65901, Auckland 10, New Zealand. For subscription information for this journal, contact the publisher: Adis International Ltd, 41 Centorian Dr, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi
Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand. |
