title: Combined treatment with oral finasteride and topical minoxidil in male androgenetic alopecia: a randomized and comparative study in Chinese patients.
abstract: Finasteride at 1 mg/day and 5% topical minoxidil are effective in male androgenetic alopecia (MAGA). However, studies describing their effects in Chinese individuals are scarce. 450 Chinese MAGA patients were randomly assigned to receive finasteride (n = 160), minoxidil (n = 130) and combined medication (n = 160) for 12 months. The patients returned to the clinic every 3 months for efficacy evaluation. And efficacy was evaluated in 428 men at treatment end, including 154, 122, and 152 in the finasteride, 5% minoxidil, and combination groups, respectively. All groups showed similar baseline characteristics, including age at enrollment, and duration and severity of alopecia (p > 0.05). At 12 months, 80.5, 59, and 94.1% men treated with finasteride, 5% minoxidil and the combination therapy showed improvement, respectively. Adverse reactions were rare (finasteride, 1.8%; minoxidil, 6.1%), and disappeared right after drug withdrawal. In conclusion, finasteride is superior to 5% minoxidil, while the combined medication showed the best efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Ruiming
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Youyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Sisi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Wenlong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
authors.forename: Qinping
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D018120:Finasteride; D008914:Minoxidil
keywords: androgenetic alopecia; finasteride; minoxidil