[Comparison of therapeutic effects of finasteride jel and tablet in treatment of androgenic alopecia]

ABSTRACT

Finasteride, a type II- selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, that causes decreasing Dihydrotestestrone [DHT] levels, is effective in treatment of male androgenic alopecia. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of local finasteride on androgenic alopecia treatment in comparison with oral finasteride. This study was a double-blind clinical trial including 45 male patients involved with androgenetic alopecia according to history and physical examination and possessing the study criteria selected among patients referred to private clinics and departments of dermatology in Sari city. Patients were divided into two groups patients in group A [finasteride jel and placebo tablet] and patients in group B [finastride tablet and placebo jel] and the eligible referred patients were gradually and randomly entered the two groups. The treatment period was 6 months. In order to evaluate the drug effects and progressive state of the patients and assessment of drug complications, the patients were followed up by clinical observation and recording of side effects before study and at the end of the first week and then every month after starting the treatment. The variables used to evaluate the therapeutic response were size of defect, hair count and terminal hair count. The analysis was done using descriptive and Chi [2] statistical methods. Of the 45 patients enrolled, 38 completed the entire study period. The average period since the onder of hair loss was 18.8 +/- 23.10 months. Every month the size of alopecia area, hair count and terminal hair count between the two groups were compared and there were on significant statistical differences. In the third month of treatment an increase in terminal hair count were observed in group A [P=0.001], this phenomenon was observed in second months in group B [P=0.015]. During the therapeutic period, the size of alopecia area did not significantly change in group A, but in group B, the change in size of alopecia area was significant 4 months after the start of treatment [P=0.027]. Increased hair count in two groups were significant in the fourth treatment mouths [P=0.001 in group A and P=0.000 in group B]. In this study, treatment with%1 finasteride jel produced relatively similar moderate therapeutic effects with finasteride tablet [%54.5 against%56] in patients with male alopecia with no significant statistical differences [P=0.643]