Role of Dutasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

Abstract

This study evaluates the role of dutasteride in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. A prospective, open-labeled interventional study conducted at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka from April 2023 to March 2024. Men with Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) who did not show significant improvement when treated with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg/d for at least six months were enrolled. Ninety patients were recruited after taking informed consent. Patients were treated with dutasteride at a dose of 0.5 mg daily for 24 weeks. Clinical assessment was performed by dermatologists and subjective evaluation of overall assessment was done based onchanges in the size of the vertex spot, hair loss on top of the scalp, bitemporal recession, the amount of hair shedding and hair quality on a 3-point rating scale (increased, no change, or decreased). The mean age of study patients was 36.3±12 years and majority of the patients 30(33.3%) belonged to the age group 41- 50 years with followed by 27(30.0%) in the age group 31-40 years. Regarding subjective evaluation of overall assessment, in case of change in size of vertex spot, majority 77(85.6%) showed decreased, in case of hair loss from top of scalp, majority 83(92.2%) reported decreased, in case of bitemporal recession, majority 82(91.1%) showedno change, in case of hair shedding, majority 87(96.7%) showed decreased and in case of hair quality, 85(94.4%) reported increased and no patient reported of decreased. Regarding clinical assessment of investigator that majority of the patients 40(44.5%) was moderately improved (+2), followed by 30(33.3%) was greatly improved (score of +3), 18(20.0%) was slightly improved (+1) and only 2(2.2%) was unchanged (0). Among the ninety patients of androgenetic alopecia, 3(3.3%) showed decreased libido and 2(2.2%) showed erectile dysfunction. The study concluded that dutasteride is effective and safe in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. This study will provide the therapeutic basis for dutasteride as an alternative treatment option for patients with AGA recalcitrant to finasteride over six months. Therefore, dutasteride will become a treatment of choice for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in near future.