Measuring reversal of hair miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia by follicular counts in horizontal sections of serial scalp biopsies: Results of finasteride 1 mg treatment of men and postmenopausal women
Da. Whiting et al., Measuring reversal of hair miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia by follicular counts in horizontal sections of serial scalp biopsies: Results of finasteride 1 mg treatment of men and postmenopausal women, J INV D SYM, 4(3), 1999, pp. 282-284
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Dermatology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS
Hair regrowth was evaluated by histologic analysis in men and women treated
for androgenetic alopecia, by counting follicles in horizontal sections of
scalp biopsies. Serial 4 mm punch biopsies were taken at baseline and afte
r 12 mo of treatment from the transitional area of hair thinning between no
rmal hair and vertex balding in men, and in an area of frontal/parietal thi
nning in women. Horizontal sections of reticular and papillary dermis were
read by one observer, blinded to patient, treatment, and time. All terminal
hair bulbs, terminal anagen and telogen hairs, and vellus and vellus-like
miniaturized hairs were counted. Twenty-six men aged 18-41 y, comprising 14
on finasteride 1 mg daily and 12 on placebo, and 94 postmenopausal women,
aged 41-60 y, comprising 44 on finasteride 1 mg daily and 50 on placebo, we
re evaluated. In the male study, the terminal hairs increased from a mean b
aseline count of 15.5-20.9 after 12 mo of finasteride, versus 17.3-18.3 in
the placebo patients, The miniaturized hairs decreased from 26.7 to 23.6 wi
th finasteride versus 21.3-20.3 with placebo. The terminal-to-vellus ratio
increased more in the finasteride than in the placebo patients, suggesting
some reversal of the miniaturization process with finasteride, In the femal
e study, no significant differences in follicular counts were found between
the finasteride and placebo groups after 12 mo of treatment. Follicular co
unts in horizontal sections provide an informative adjunct to noninvasive m
easures used in hair growth studies. Finasteride appears to be capable of r
eversing hair miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia in young to middle-a
ged men, but not in postmenopausal women.