Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common cause of balding in men. AGA is the risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, glucose metabolism disorders and also the risk of benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate carcinoma.

Methods: A group of 26 men (mean age: 31 years, mean BMI 25.58), in which premature hair loss begun before 30 years of age was involved in the present study. In all individuals, their hormonal profile involving total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, epitestosterone, dihydrotestosterone, cortisol, estradiol, SHBG, prolactin, TSH, LH, FSH and index of free testosterone was determined and insulin tolerance test before the treatment with finasterid was carried out. Finasteride in the daily dose of 1 mg was administered for 3 months. After the treatment hormonal profile was determined again. Wilcoxon robust test was used for statistic comparison of pre- and post-treatment results.

Results: The hormonal levels before and after the finasteride treatment were compared. The ratios of dihydrotestosterone/testosterone before and after treatment differed significantly while in the other hormonal levels no significant differences were found. Among 26 men examined and treated 17 subjects described the amelioration of hair quality and the stop of hair loss and no side effects during the treatment period. They were satisfied with treatment asking for the treatment to continue. Eight men have observed no treatment effect after the 3 months of finasteride administration. One man has shown the discrete sign of gynecomastia, and interrupted the treatment. No other side effects have been recorded. The insuline tolerance test before treatment was normal.

Conclusions: Finasteride in dose of 1 mg can present safe eventuality of the androgenetic alopecia control experiencing discrete amelioration of problems with hair loss in prematurely balding men.

The study was supported by grant No. NR/8525 – 5 of the IGA MZCR