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Long-term treatment with finasteride 1 mg decreases the likelihood of developing further visible hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss)

European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 18, Number 4, 400-6, July-August 2008, Investigative report

DOI : 10.1684/ejd.2008.0436

Summary

Author(s) : Keith D Kaufman, Jennifer Rotonda, Arvind K Shah, Alan G Meehan , Merck Research Laboratories, 126 East Lincoln Avenue, RY34-A248, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.

Summary : There are no reports on the effects of pharmacologic treatment on the likelihood of developing further visible hair loss in men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Our objectives were to examine whether finasteride 1 mg treatment decreases the likelihood of developing further visible hair loss in men with AGA. We conducted an analysis of global photographic assessment data from two Phase III trials in which 1553 men with AGA received finasteride 1 mg/day or placebo for up to 5 years. Finasteride 1 mg treatment led to a 93% decrease relative to placebo in the 5-year likelihood of developing further visible hair loss (95% CI: 89-97%\; p <\; 0.001). We conclude that, in men with AGA, treatment with finasteride 1 mg/day over 5 years led to a marked and sustained decrease in the likelihood of developing further visible hair loss.

Keywords : androgenetic alopecia, finasteride, 5α-reductase inhibitor, global photographic assessment, patient self-assessment

Pictures

Figure 1 Incidence rate for development of further visible hair loss from baseline, as determined by the global photographic assessment, expressed as number of events per 100 patient-years.

Figure 2 Five-year likelihood of developing further visible hair loss relative to baseline in placebo- versus finasteride 1 mg-treated patients, as determined by the global photographic assessment. Arrow denotes percent relative decrease in likelihood of developing further visible hair loss for finasteride 1 mg treatment versus placebo, with the associated p-value.

Figure 3 Comparison of incidence rates for development of further visible hair loss in placebo versus finasteride 1 mg groups, presented by (A) baseline modified Norwood-Hamilton classification (B) duration of scalp hair loss at baseline (C) parents’ history of scalp hair loss, (D) grandparents’ history of scalp hair loss, (E) age at randomization, and (F) age at onset of scalp hair loss. Numbers shown below the bars indicate number of patients per treatment group.

Figure 4 Baseline and Year 5 vertex scalp global photographs of a placebo- (panels A and B, respectively) and finasteride 1 mg-treated (panels C and D, respectively) patient. The placebo patient entered the study at age 29 years and the finasteride 1 mg patient entered at age 19 years. The expert review panel assessed the placebo patient as having a moderate decrease from baseline in scalp hair growth from baseline at Year 5. The finasteride 1 mg patient was assessed as having no change from baseline in scalp hair growth at Year 5.