Endocrine Abstracts

Androgenetic alopecia, not only caused psychological distress, but also is the risk factor of cardiovascular diseases, glucose metabolism disorders, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate carcinoma and suspected to present the sign of male equivalent of polycystic ovary syndrome. Finasteride, used for treatment of androgenetic alopecia in dose of 1 mg/day, is the first 5α-reductase type II inhibitor. The 5α-reductase is enzyme responsible for the reduction of testosterone to dihydrostestosterone, progesterone to dihydroprogesterone and deoxycorticosterone to dihydrodeoxycorticosterone. Following recent observation, dihydrotestosterone plays the role in visceral fat metabolism. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of 1 year treatment of 1 mg finasteride on hormonal levels, lipid spectrum and insulin sensitivity in men with premature androgenetic alopecia. The study included 30 men with premature hair loss (defined as grade three vertex or more on the alopecia classification scale of Hamilton with Norwood modification) starting before 30 years of age. In all individuals, the levels of total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosteron sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone, epitestosterone, allopregnanolone, dihydrotestosterone, and further reduced androstane metabolites, cortisol, estradiol, SHBG, prolactin, TSH, LH, FSH, index of free testosterone, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triacylglycerols and insulin tolerance test were determined. Finasteride in the daily dose of 1 mg was administered for 12 months. The same hormonal profile and lipid spectrum was monitored after 4, 8 and 12 months of the treatment and insulin tolerance test was repeated after 12 months of the treatment. Besides the decrease of dihydrotestosterone level after treatment, the alteration in further 5alfa- steroids metabolites was found. However the metabolic state remained unchanged. The study was supported by grant No. NR/8525 – 5 of the IGA MZCR.