The impact of monotherapies for male androgenetic alopecia: A network meta-analysis study.

Publisher: Blackwell Science Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101130964 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1473-2165 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14732130 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Cosmet Dermatol Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Oxford, UK : Blackwell Science, c2002-

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors*/administration & dosage ; Alopecia*/therapy ; Minoxidil*/administration & dosage ; Network Meta-Analysis*; Humans ; Male ; Bayes Theorem ; Dutasteride/administration & dosage ; Finasteride/therapeutic use ; Finasteride/administration & dosage ; Hair/growth & development ; Hair/drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

Background: The evidence base pertaining to the efficacy of monotherapies for androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of hair loss, is ever expanding-and this warrants a formal comparison therapies' effect on a frequent basis.
Aims: The objective of the current study was to determine the comparative effect of relevant monotherapies for male AGA.
Patients/methods: Our aim was achieved by conducting Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA), under a random effects model, for two outcomes: 6-month change in (1) total and (2) terminal hair density in adult (i.e., aged 18 years and above) men with AGA; these analyses were preceded by a systematic search of the peer-reviewed literature for suitable data. Interventions' surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) and pairwise relative effects (quantified as mean differences) were estimated through the NMAs.
Results: We determined the comparative effect of 20 active comparators and a control (i.e., placebo/vehicle). "Dutasteride 0.5 mg once daily for 24 weeks" was ranked the most effective in terms of 6-month change in (1) total hair density (SUCRA = 87%) and terminal hair density (SUCRA = 98%). Our results showed that interventions' effectiveness can be dose dependent.
Conclusions: Our updated analyses of the up-to-date evidence regarding monotherapies for male AGA showed that the oral form of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are more effective than oral minoxidil and other newer agents like Botox, microneedling, and photobiomodulation. Our findings can better inform clinical decision making and design of future research studies.
(© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

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0 (5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors)
O0J6XJN02I (Dutasteride)
57GNO57U7G (Finasteride)
5965120SH1 (Minoxidil)

Date Created: 20240510 Date Completed: 20240828 Latest Revision: 20240912

20250114

10.1111/jocd.16362

38725143