title: Finasteride: a clinical review.
abstract: Finasteride is the first of a new class of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors which allows selective androgen deprivation affecting dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in target organs such as the prostate and scalp hair without effecting circulating levels of testosterone thus preserving the desired androgen mediated effects on muscle strength, bone density and sexual function. Finasteride has been demonstrated to produce significant effects in men with an enlarged prostate gland. The long-term data now emerging suggests that progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may be arrested providing additional long term benefits. Experimental uses in prostate cancer prevention and male pattern baldness offer new and exciting possibilities for this class of compounds.
authors.affiliation: Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, NJ 07065-0914, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gormley
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018120:Finasteride / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride