The efficacy and safety of dutasteride compared with finasteride in treating men with androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aim: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dutasteride and finasteride in treating men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) during a 24-week treatment cycle. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of dutasteride and finasteride for treating AGA were searched using MEDLINE, E...

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Published inClinical interventions in aging Vol. 14; p. 399
Main Authors Zhou, Zhongbao, Song, Shiqiang, Gao, Zhenli, Wu, Jitao, Ma, Jiajia, Cui, Yuanshan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Dove Medical Press Limited 28.02.2019
Subjects
Alopecia
Baldness
Comparative analysis
Demographic aspects
Drug therapy
Dutasteride
Finasteride
Genetic aspects
Health aspects
Men
China
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Summary:Aim: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dutasteride and finasteride in treating men with androgenetic alopecia (AGA) during a 24-week treatment cycle. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of dutasteride and finasteride for treating AGA were searched using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The data were calculated using Rev Man v5.3.0. The reference lists of retrieved studies were also investigated. Results: Three articles including 576 participants which compared dutasteride with finasteride were selected for our analysis. The mean change in total hair count (mean difference [MD], 28.57; 95% CI, 18.75-38.39; P<0.00001), investigator's assessment of global photographs for the vertex (MD, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.13-1.23; P=0.02) and frontal (MD, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.13-1.13; P=0.01) views, panel global photographic assessment for the vertex (MD, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.09-0.24; P<0.00001) and frontal (MD, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.18-0.31; P<0.00001) views, and subjects' assessment (MD, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.18-0.94; P=0.003) suggested that dutasteride provided a better efficacy in treating men with AGA compared with finasteride. With regard to the assessment of safety, altered libido (P=0.54), erectile dysfunction (P=0.07), and ejaculation disorders (P=0.58), dutasteride did not show a significant difference compared with finasteride. Conclusion: Dutasteride seems to provide a better efficacy compared with finasteride in treating AGA. The two drugs appear to show similar rates of adverse reactions, especially in sexual dysfunction. Keywords: androgenetic alopecia, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, dutasteride, finasteride
ISSN:1178-1998
1178-1998
DOI:10.2147/CIAS192435