Background: Daily finasteride 1mg which mainly used for androgenetic alopecia(AGA) treatment, continuous taking finasteride is necessary to maintain therapeutic effect.
Objectives: To compare the clinical maintenance effect and change of plasma, urine androgen hormone level between finasteride 1mg regimens daily, and every other months (EOM) use, after taking finasteride 1mg daily for 1 year.
Methods: We enrolled 23 Korean men with AGA who were treated with finasteride 1 mg daily for 1 year. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, and then treated with finasteride 1 mg for 1 more year. We defined daily group as 9 patients who took finasteride 1 mg daily and EOM group as 14 patients who took it EOM. Treatment efficacy assessed by the investigator’s global assessment at every 1 year. Trichoscopic photography and serum and urine sample collected at regular visit.
Results: Change of investigators global assessment between two groups were no statistical significant (1.33 vs 1.29 respectively). In trichoscopic analysis, change of hair density between two groups were no statistical significant. In serum concentration of DHT, DHT/T decreased in first year, and maintained next year in daily group, but elevated next year in EOM group.
Conclusion: Clinical maintenance effect of finasteride 1mg EOM dosage showed similar to that of finasteride 1mg daily dosage during 1 year in Korean men with AGA, after taking finasteride 1 mg daily for 1 year.