Finasteride, 1 mg daily administration on male androgenetic alopecia in different age groups: 10-year follow-up

Abstract

Finasteride 1 mg is indicated for the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, more than 5 years efficacy and safety has not been previously reported. To assess the efficacy over 10 years in different age groups of men with AGA. 118 men, between 20 and 61 years, with AGA receiving finasteride (1 mg/day), were enrolled in this uncontrolled study. Efficacy evaluation was assessed with standardized global photographs at T0,T1,T2,T5,T10. Statistical analysis was made using frequency tables and evaluating the chi-square index with its p-value. Better improvements are observed in patients older than 30 years (42.8% aged between 20 and 30 years did not improve also after 10 years) or with higher AGA grades (58.9% for AGA grade IV and 45.4% for AGA grade V had the first improvement just after 1 year). In 21% of cases, the treatment continuation beyond 5 years provided better results. Side effects were referred by 6% of the patients; nevertheless, some of them went on with treatment because of the great results. In our opinion, the result after the first year can help in predicting the effectiveness of the treatment. Its efficacy was not reduced as time goes on; in fact, a big proportion of subjects unchanged after 1 year, improved later on, maintaining a positive trend.

Risk Factors for Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: The Role of Metabolic Syndrome and Androgenetic Alopecia in a Latin American Population

“…Study population ethnicity was composed of 582 individuals of white race (64.1%), 182 subjects of pardo race (brown multiracial individuals, 20.0%), 122 individuals of black race (13.4%), 16 CI 1.44-2.61, P <.001) were significantly associated with moderate to severe LUTS. Conversely, a BMI !30 (P ¼ .85) and waist circumference (P ¼ .64) were not associated with LUTS.…”

“…29 Furthermore, drugs that inhibit 5 alpha-reductase are shown to be effective in the treatment of both LUTS and AGA. [16][17][18] Initial studies have suggested an association between the incidence of LUTS and AGA in older patients. However, these were conducted with smaller cohorts and not adjusted for relevant demographic predictors.…”

“…A team of trained urologists collected data on a structured datasheet assessing age, use of medications, presence of previously diagnosed comorbidities e hypertension (defined as blood presure !130 Â 85 mm Hg or antihypertensive drug use), type 2 diabetes mellitus (defined as fasting plasma glucose !100 mg/dL or diabetes drug use), dyslipidemia (serum high-density lipoprotein <40 mg/dL, triglycerides !150 mg/dL, or lipid medication use), previous cardiovascular events, or previous urologic diagnoses and presence of LUTS with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire. Presence of LUTS was categorized according to the IPSS as mild or asymptomatic (IPSS 0-7), moderate (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19), or severe (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Presence of clinically significant LUTS was defined as a score equal to or greater than 8 on IPSS.…”

“…12 Additionally, inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into DHT, are shown to be effective in treating AGA and in reducing LUTS associated with BPH. [16][17][18] Such facts underscore a possible association between these 2 conditions and have motivated epidemiologic investigation. However, existing results are not only controversial but also limited by small cohorts, nonstandardized definitions of LUTS, and lack of control of confounding variables.…”

A New Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Hair Loss in Mice Using Grayscale Analysis

“…Finasteride is a competitive antagonist to type II 5α-reductase which blocks conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, resulting in improvements in androgenic alopecia at the expense of partial systemic androgen blockade. Response rates with long-term (10 years) therapy are around 50% 11 . Overall, despite considerable research in this area, there is still no adequate therapy for hair loss.…”