Il gruppo dei ricercatori italiani pubblica i primi risultati sulla PFS

European Urology Supplements

Volume 11, Issue 1, February 2012

Clinical analysis in young patient with persistent sexual dysfunctions after finasteride assumption to prevent male pattern hair loss Trombetta C.1, Mazzon G.1, Liguori G.1, Ollandini G.1, Cauci S.2, Toffoli G.3, Erika E.4 1Università Degli Studi Di Trieste, Dept. of Clinical Urology, Trieste, Italy, 2Università Degli Studi Di Udine, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Udine, Italy, 3CRO, Dept. of Pharmacogenetics Research, Aviano, Italy, 4CRO, Dept. of Pharmacology, Aviano, Italy INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Finasteride is commonly used to treat male pattern hair loss (MPHL). The effectiveness of the drug has been demonstrated in a number of studies. Finasteride has been associated with reversible adverse sexual side effects in multiple randomized, controlled trials. The mentioned side effects are described as reversible. However in literature a lot of case of persistent sexual adverse symptoms are signaled. The persistence of symptoms after discontinuation is named Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS). We sought to characterize the types and duration of persistent sexual side effects in otherwise healthy men who took finasteride for MPHL. MATERIAL & METHODS: We enrolled in a retrospective study 78 patients affected by PFS who reported the new onset of sexual side effects associated with the temporal use of finasteride, in which the symptoms persisted for at least 3 months despite the discontinuation of finasteride. Of all patients were collected hormonal blood analysis, moreover to all the patients were dispensed ASEX and AMS questionnaires before and after finasteride use. The blood analysis need to have been performed not longer than 9 months before entering the study and after 3 months of abstinence from any exogenous hormonal/antidepressive/antipsychotic treatments or anabolic androgenic steroids. Moreover, all patients with other diseases were excluded. RESULTS: Patients were aged 24-56. ASEX evaluated before and after finasteride assumption had a mean decreasing of 13,84 (P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in relation to the duration of therapy or to the age of assumption. 60% of patients reported that their symptoms worsened after discontinuation of the drug. CONCLUSIONS: The finasteride used in young males should determine a potential risk for sexual health, physicians treating MPHL should evaluate the potential risk of persistent sexual side effects associated with finasteride.

http://discover-decouvrir.cisti-icist.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/article/?id=19812233

Come possiamo vedere la ricerca italiana inizia a fornire prove sempre più valide e contorni sempre più definiti sull'entità  del fenomeno PFS. Attendiamo ulteriori notizie nel prossimo futuro.