H.K. Ryu,*+ K.M. Kim,* E.A. Yoo,+ W.Y. Sim++ and B.C. Chung*
Evaluation of androgens in the scalp hair and plasma of patients with
male-pattern baldness before and after finasteride administration.
British Journal of Dermatology 2006 - Online Early
doi: 10.1111/ j.1365-2133.2005.07072.x
*Bioanalysis and Biotransformation Research Centre, Korea Institute of Science
and Technology, PO Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul, 130-605, Korea
+Department of Chemistry, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul, 136-742, Korea
++Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul,
130-701, Korea
Summary
Background Finasteride, a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 5a-reductase II,
is widely used as a medical treatment for patients with male-pattern baldness (MPB),
which is affected by the distribution of androgenic steroids. It is also notable
that the androgenic effect in MPB is different for each region of the head.
Objectives To study the effect of the drug finasteride, we quantified androgenic
steroids in the vertex and occipital scalp hair and in the plasma of patients
with MPB.
Methods The patients with MPB, aged 23–52 years, were treated with finasteride 1
mg daily for 5 months. The hair and plasma samples were hydrolysed, extracted
with n-pentane, and derivatized with MSTFA : NH4I : DTE (1000 : 4 : 5, v ?w?w).
We analysed the concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone (T)
in the hair and plasma using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
Results In the hair, the ratio of DHT T was decreased in the vertex scalp hair
after the individual received finasteride (P < 0,005). However, we found no
significant difference in the ratio of DHT T in the occipital scalp hair before
and after individuals received finasteride. Like the results in the vertex scalp
hair, the ratio of DHT T in the plasma was remarkably decreased after
finasteride administration (P < 0,001).
Conclusions This study supports the effect of finasteride in patients with MPB
by examining the decreased level of DHT T in scalp hair and in plasma. Thus, in
view of the androgenic effect in the different hair regions, the vertex scalp
hair plays a more important role for patients with MPB treated with finasteride
than does the occipital hair.