Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is hereditary and androgen dependent, progressive thinning of the scalp hair that follows a defined pattern. Aim ot the work: is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mesotherapy using dutasteride in treatment of androgenetic alopecia in males. Materials and Methods: Ninety male patients were randomly assigned into three groups; group A containing 30 patients who received pure dutasteride, group B of another 30 patients who received dutasteride containing solution and group C of the remaining 30 patients who received saline. Each group was given nine mesotherapy sessions. Assessment was done using trichogram, independent observer assessment of photographs and patients self assessment together with evaluation of possible systemic absorption using semenogram and serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Result: Statistical analysis of the thrichogram results, the effect on semenogram and the serum level of dihydrotestosterone.showed that dutastride containing solution was the best. Conclusion: Mesotherapy using dutasteride is a good option for treatment of male pattern hair loss; resulting in reduction or cessation of hair loss and promotion of new hair growth.
IntroductionPattern hair loss (PHL), or androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or common baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss in men [1][2][3]. It is distinctive due to the pattern of progression of the scalp hair loss. Dutasteride shares important characteristics with finasteride. While finasteride inhibits type II 5-α reductase, dutasteride inhibits both type I and II isoenzymes [4][5][6]. However, there is evidence that dutasteride is three times as potent as finasteride at inhibiting type II 5-α reductase and more than 100 times as potent at inhibiting type I enzyme. This suggests enhanced efficacy over the existing finasteride, so scalp and serum levels of DHT are more affected i.e. dutasteride decreases serum DHT by more than 90% [7], while finasteride decreases serum DHT by 70% [8,9]. The half-life of dutasteride is 4 weeks, compared with 6 to 8 hours for finasteride. This suggests that the effects on sexual function are longer lasting (several months) and more difficult to reverse [5]. Men being treated with dutasteride should not donate blood until they have been off of the medication for at least 6 months [5,10].