Proscar scientific update |
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Dermatol Surg. 2005 Oct;31(10):1268-76, discussion 1276.
Leavitt M, Perez-Meza D, Rao NA, Barusco M, Kaufman KD, Ziering C.
Medical Hair Restoration, 120 International Parkway, Ste. 240, Heathrow, FL 32746, USA
Effects of finasteride (1 mg) on hair transplant.
BACKGROUND: The improved scalp coverage achieved by hair transplant for men with androgenetic alopecia can be diminished by continued miniaturization and loss of preexisting, nontransplanted hairs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether finasteride 1 mg, administered daily from 4 weeks before until 48 weeks after hair transplant, improves scalp hair and growth of nontransplanted hair in areas surrounding the transplant and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of finasteride for men undergoing hair transplant. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 79 men with androgenetic alopecia (20-45 years of age) were assigned to treatment with finasteride 1 mg (n = 40) or placebo (n = 39) once daily from 4 weeks before until 48 weeks after hair transplant. Efficacy was evaluated by review of global photographs by an expert dermatologist and by macrophotography for scalp hair counts. RESULTS: Treatment with finasteride resulted in significant improvements from baseline, compared with placebo, in scalp hair based on global photographic assessment (p < .01) and hair counts (p < .01) at week 48. Visible increases in superior/frontal scalp hair post-transplant were recorded for 94% and 67% of patients in the finasteride and placebo groups, respectively. Finasteride treatment was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: For men with androgenetic alopecia, therapy with finasteride 1 mg daily from 4 weeks before until 48 weeks after hair transplant improves scalp hair surrounding the hair transplant and increases hair density.
Eur J Dermatol. 2002 Jan-Feb;12(1):32-7.
Stough DB, Rao NA, Kaufman KD, Mitchell C.
Burke Research, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913, USA.
Finasteride improves male pattern hair loss in a randomized study in identical twins.
OBJECTIVES: This study compared the efficacy of finasteride with placebo in the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in nine pairs of male identical twins. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study, one twin from each identical twin pair received finasteride 1 mg/day for one year while the other received placebo. Hair growth was evaluated from standardized clinical photographs, hair counts and patient self-assessment questionnaires. Serum dihydrotestosterone and testosterone levels were analyzed and adverse events recorded. RESULTS: Finasteride significantly improved hair growth at one year compared to placebo (p < 0.05) based on analysis of photographs of the vertex and superior-frontal scalp. These results were consistent with the hair count change measured in the finasteride group, which was superior (p < 0.05) to the change measured in the placebo group. Patient self-assessment demonstrated that treatment with finasteride, in comparison to placebo, led to improvements in scalp hair growth and patients' satisfaction with appearance of hair. No drug-related adverse events were reported during the study. CONCLUSION: Through the use of identical twins, this study provides further evidence that finasteride significantly reduces hair loss progression and restores hair growth in men with male pattern hair loss.
Eur J Dermatol. 2003 Mar-Apr;13(2):150-60.
Whiting DA, Olsen EA, Savin R, Halper L, Rodgers A, Wang L, Hustad C, Palmisano J; Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group.
Dallas Associated Dermatologists, 3600 Gaston Avenue, #1051 LB76, TX 75246, USA.
Efficacy and tolerability of finasteride 1 mg in men aged 41 to 60 years with male pattern hair loss.
A 24-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study of 424 men was conducted to determine the efficacy and tolerability of finasteride 1 mg on hair growth/loss in men aged 41 to 60 years with mild-to-moderate, predominantly vertex male pattern hair loss. Efficacy was evaluated by review of global photographs of the vertex scalp taken at baseline and at Months 6, 12, 18, and 24 and by patient self-assessments and investigator clinical assessments of change from baseline in hair growth/loss collected at Months 6, 12, 18, and 24. Safety analyses included assessment of clinical and laboratory adverse experiences, including sexual adverse experiences. Analysis of global photographic assessment data showed significant improvement in hair growth for men in the finasteride group compared with those taking placebo beginning at Month 6 (p < 0.001) and maintained through Month 24 (p < 0.001). Results of the patient self-assessment and investigator assessments were consistent with those from the global photographic assessment. Finasteride 1 mg improved scalp hair growth in men aged 41 to 60 years with predominantly vertex male pattern hair loss compared with results seen with placebo. Improvement was evident by 6 months of treatment and continued through 24 months. Treatment with finasteride 1 mg was generally well tolerated.
Gynecol Endocrinol. 2003 Oct;17(5):419-22.
Bayram F, Muderris I, Guven M, Ozcelik B, Kelestimur F.
Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey.
Low-dose (2.5 mg/day) finasteride treatment in hirsutism.
This study was performed to confirm the therapeutic effects of low-dose, (2.5 mg/day) finasteride in hirsute women. Our study was a non-randomized prospective clinical trial. Twenty-nine patients with hirustism were included in the study. The patients received 2.5 mg finasteride once a day over a period of 12 months. Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, estradiol, androstenedione, total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels and hirsutism scores were determined in all patients before treatment and at every 6 months during the therapy. The hirsutism score decreased from a mean of 18.4 +/- 4.6 to 8.4 +/- 4.2 during the study. The per cent reduction in hirsutism score (mean +/- SD) at 6 and 12 months was 29.2 +/- 14.5 and 55.7 +/- 14.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in any of the hormone levels and no serious side-effects were observed during the treatment. In conclusion, low-dose finasteride (2.5 mg/day) is a cost-effective, well-tolerated therapeutic agent without significant abnormal biochemical findings and can be used in place of high-dose (5 mg/day) finasteride in the treatment of hirsutism.
Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004 Apr;5(4):933-40.
Libecco JF, Bergfeld WF.
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Dermatology and Dermapathology, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Finasteride in the treatment of alopecia.
Finasteride is a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor approved for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. Originally approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy in 1992, its approval was expanded in 1997 to include the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in men at a dose of 1 mg/day. Finasteride inhibits 5alpha-reductase, thereby prohibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is implicated in the development of hairless in some men. Reduction in DHT results in a significant improvement in subjective and objective assessments of hair growth and density. Finasteride is well-tolerated with a favourable adverse event history. The most common adverse events include reduced libido, decreased ejaculate volume and gynaecomastia.
J Chin Med Assoc. 2004 Nov;67(11):571-4.
Chiu KY, Yong CR.
Department of Surgery, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, ROC.
Effects of finasteride on prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen.
BACKGROUND: Finasteride was introduced to treat patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) recently, and it has shown its effects in reduction of prostate volume and decrease of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). We want to know how and how much does finasteride affect prostate volume as well as PSA and prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD), since PSA and PSAD are widely used as screening tools for early detection of prostate cancers. METHODS: Among 166 men with the diagnosis of BPH who received finasteride (5 mg/day) for 6 months, the serum PSA levels were measured. The prostate volumes before and after medication for a subgroup of 86 patients were measured by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Paired t-test was used for the statistical analysis. The median percentage change in PSA of total 166 men and the median percentage changes in prostate volumes and PSAD of 86 men were also calculated. RESULTS: Among 166 men, the average serum PSA level was 2.48+/-2.02 ng/mL at baseline and 1.57+/-1.47 ng/mL at 6 months later. The median percentage change of serum PSA level was -44.26%. For 86 patients who underwent TRUS evaluation the average prostate volume changed from 39.83+/-21.10 mL to 33.62+/-20.52 mL. The median percentage change of prostatic volume was -17.80%. Also, the median percentage change in PSAD for these 86 patients after medication was -38.67%. CONCLUSIONS: Finasteride does decrease the serum PSA level and PSAD as well as prostate volume in men with BPH treated with it for 6 months. Physicians prescribing finasteride for patients with symptomatic BPH should always keep in mind its effect on PSA and PSAD levels in order not to miss potential prostate cancers.
Proscar description...
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Drug category:Benign prostatic hyperplasia therapy agents
 Proscar scientific update
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