An observational retrospective evaluation of 79 young men with long-term adverse effects after use of finasteride against androgenetic alopecia

作者：Chiriaco G; Cauci S^*; Mazzon G; Trombetta C

来源：Andrology, 2016, 4(2): 245-250.

DOI：10.1111/andr.12147

• 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor
• AGA
• benign prostatic hyperplasia
• erectile dysfunction
• finasteride safety
• finasteride side effects
• follicle stimulating hormone
• free testosterone
• loss of libido
• luteinizing hormone
• male pattern hair loss
• PFS
• Post-finasteride syndrome
• sexual dysfunction
• testosterone

Concern regarding adverse effects of finasteride is increasing. We aimed to determine the type and frequency of symptoms in men having long-term sexual and non-sexual side effects after finasteride treatment (a condition recently called post-finasteride syndrome, PFS) against androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Subjects were recruited at the Urology Unit of the Trieste University-Hospital, and from a dedicated website. Out of 79 participants, 34% were white Italians, mean age was 33.4 +/- 7.60years, mean duration of finasteride use was 27.3 +/- 33.21months; mean time from finasteride discontinuation was 44.1 +/- 34.20months. Symptoms were investigated by an ad hoc 100 questions' questionnaire, and by validated Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and Aging Male Symptom Scale (AMS) questionnaires. By ASEX questionnaire, 40.5% of participants declared getting and keeping erection very difficult, and 3.8% never achieved; reaching orgasm was declared very difficult by 16.5%, and never achieved by 2.5%. By the ad hoc questionnaire, the most frequent sexual symptoms referred were loss of penis sensitivity (87.3%), decreased ejaculatory force (82.3%), and low penile temperature (78.5%). The most frequent non-sexual symptoms were reduced feeling of life pleasure or emotions (anhedonia) (75.9%); lack of mental concentration (72.2%), and loss of muscle tone/mass (51.9%). We contributed to inform about symptoms of PFS patients; unexpectedly loss of penis sensitivity was more frequent than severe erectile dysfunction and loss of muscle tone/mass was affecting half of the subjects. Further studies are necessary to investigate the pathophysiological and biochemical pathways leading to the post-finasteride syndrome.

• 出版日期2016-3