A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of testosterone gel treatment versus vehicle control on the facial hair of young men with beta-thalassemia major.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the medical prescription of testosterone gel can successfully increase facial hairs in young men with beta-thalassemia major.


METHODS
Thirty-two men with beta-thalassemia major, at least 15 years old (tanner stage 4), were randomized in four blocks according to age and serum testosterone level. The cases received 2.5% testosterone gel. The changes in the number of terminal hairs were evaluated by a dermatologist after 6 months. Student's t-test and paired t-test were used to compare the results.


RESULTS
The serum testosterone levels of controls and cases were 9.5+/-5.7 (mean+/-SD) and 10.5+/-9.6 ng/l, respectively. The number of terminal hairs (per cm2) in cases (29.8+/-13.6) was significantly higher than that for controls (13.9+/-13.2) (p<0.005). One patient from each group complained of a sense of irritation.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2.5% testosterone gel was effective and well tolerated in inducing the transformation of the terminal hairs of the beard area of thalassemic males.
Saeedi
Majid
M
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. majsaeedi@yahoo.com
Kosaryan
Mehrnoush
M
Fekri
Kiavash
K
Adabi
Morteza
M
Mahdavi
Mohamad Reza
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005145:Face; D005782:Gels; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000209:etiology; D007039:Hypotrichosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D000728:Androgens; D005782:Gels; D013739:Testosterone