Introduction
This is a bibliography of finasteride-related articles in Hair Transplant Forum International, the official publication of the International Society for Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS). The Society of hair transplant surgeons emerged in parallel with finasteride’s development. Its co-founder, Dr. Dow Stough, and others had roles as investigators, consultants and co-authors as Merck developed finasteride for hair loss.
The Society paid attention to finasteride since before the drug was approved. A 1994 article asked: “Finasteride…Should We be Worried?” Rather than finasteride replacing a hair transplant procedure, surgeons eventually embraced it as an adjunct treatment prescribed before and after the procedure. Finasteride might help retain hair in the area receiving transplanted follicles, or possibly spur regrowth.
When concerns about depression and persistent sexual dysfunction linked to finasteride emerged in 2010–11, the pace of articles picked up. In the wake of two label changes, lawsuits over persistent sexual dysfunction due to Propecia were filed and then consolidated into a multi-district litigation (MDL) in the United States with over 1,000 plaintiffs. Hair transplant practices and surgeons were named as defendants. As litigation proceedings unfolded, there was increased attention to the drug’s adverse effects in the Forum. Perspectives and evidence were shared in letters from the editor, President’s messages, “cyberspace chats,” meeting recaps, discussions of “controversies“ and literature reviews. Some authors, such as Dr. Robert S. Haber and Dr. Aditya K. Gupta, also published peer-reviewed articles on adverse effects of finasteride elsewhere.
Hair Transplant Forum International is not peer-reviewed. Access is strictly limited to members of the ISHRS, who must be verified as physicians. Tables of contents and full text of a few articles may be found here. In the bibliography, citations are in a shortened format: only author, title and DOI are provided. Full bibliographic information may be found by clicking on the DOI link.
See also: Hair or manhood—choose one?, describing the role of ISHRS-affiliated physicians in the development and use of finasteride as a treatment for male pattern hair loss.
Bibliography: Hair Transplant Forum International
A modified AMA style is used to preserve authors’ full names.
2022
Rogers, Nicole E. Literature review. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2022 Sep;32(5):173. doi:10.33589/32.5.173
Yanagisawa M, Sato A. Long-term (over 10 years) evaluation of efficacy and safety of finasteride in Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia: summary of three investigations. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2022 Jul;32(4):130. doi:10.33589/32.4.130 [Also reported in Yanagisawa, et al. Clin Res Trials. 2019. doi:10.15761/CRT.1000273]
2021
Wasserbauer, Sarah. Hair’s the question. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2021 Mar;31(2):64–67. doi:10.33589/31.2.64
2019
Gupta, Aditya K. Literature review: use of finasteride and sexual dysfunction. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2019 Sep;29(5):201. doi:10.33589/29.5.201a
Haber, Robert S. Letter to the Editors: REPLY. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2019 Sep;29(5):204. doi:10.33589/29.5.204b
Haber, Robert S., Aditya K. Gupta, Edwin S. Epstein, J.L. Carviel, and K.A. Foley. Finasteride for androgenetic alopecia is not associated with sexual dysfunction: a survey-based, single-centre, controlled study. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2019 May;29(3):89–96. doi:10.33589/29.3.89. (Also published in J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. doi:10.1111/jdv.15548)
Kota, RahulKrishna S., and Venkataram Mysore. Letter to the Editors. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2019 Sep;29(5):204. doi:10.33589/29.5.204a
Unger, Robin. Cyberspace Chat: Finasteride and dutasteride for use in androgenetic alopecia—and the side effects so many patients worry about. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2019;29(2):68–71. doi:10.33589/29.2.68
2018
Rogers, Nicole E. Literature Review: Topical finasteride: to use or not to use? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2018 May;28(3):112. doi:10.33589/28.3.0112 • Full text
2017
Knudsen, Russell. Controversies: planning vs execution? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2017 Sep;27(5):191–194. doi:10.33589/27.5.0191
Literature Review: Finasteride and persistent erectile dysfunction (PED). Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2017 Sep;27(5):199. doi:10.33589/27.5.0199b
Rogers, Nicole E. Literature Review: Effect of 5-AR therapy on sexual function: results from a meta-analysis. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2017 Jul;27(4):161. doi:10.33589/27.4.0161
Rogers, Nicole E. Literature review: PFS: Is it real or imagined? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2017 May;27(3):104. doi:10.33589/27.3.0104
Shiell, Richard C. Notes from the Editor Emeritus, 1996–98. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2017;27(1):5. doi:10.33589/27.1.0005
2016
Bernstein, Robert. Bernstein’s consent and information on finasteride and Propecia®. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Jan;26(1):7–8. doi:10.33589/26.1.0007
Epstein, Edwin S. Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) update: point/counterpoint. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Jan;26(1):1–6. doi:10.33589/26.1.0001 • Full text
Knudsen, Russell G. Controvsies [sic]: persistent side-effects after use of 1mg finasteride: what is the evidence? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 May;26(3):112–113. doi:10.33589/26.3.0112
Leonard, Robert T. Review of the ABCRC Controversies Workshop May 13-14, 2016 • Fortaleza, Brazil. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Jul;26(4):172. doi:10.33589/26.4.0172
Marzola, Mario. Co-editors’ messages. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Jan;26(1):3. doi:10.33589/26.1.0003
Rose, Paul. Rose’s Consent & information on finasteride and Propecia®. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Jan;26(1);9-10. doi:10.33589/26.1.0009
Stough, Dow B. Coincidental epigenetics or post-finasteride syndrome (PFS)? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Nov;26(6):246. doi:10.33589/26.6.0246 • Full text
True, Robert H. Co-editors’ messages. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2016 Jan;26(1):3. doi:10.33589/26.1.0003a
2015
Cole, John P., and Bradley R. Wolf. Cyberspace chat: the treatment of men with finasteride: scientific and anecdotal evidence. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2015 Mar;25(2):61-63. doi:10.33589/25.2.0061
Farjo, Nilofer P. Message from the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting Program Chair. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2015 Mar;25(2):88. doi:10.33589/25.2.0088
Knudsen, Russell G. Controversies: Is finasteride safety data adequately reported in published trials? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2015 May;25(3):99. doi:10.33589/25.3.0099
Knudsen, Russell G. Controversies: What would hair restoration surgery be like if we didn’t have finasteride? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2015 Sep;25(5):200. doi:10.33589/25.5.0200
Radwanski, Henrique N. Meetings and studies: review of the 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery September 9-13, 2015 • Chicago, Illinois, USA. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2015 Nov;25(6):242–260. doi:10.33589/25.6.0242
Rogers, Nicole E. Review of the literature. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2015 Mar;25(2):79. doi:10.33589/25.2.0079
2014
Perez-Meza, David, Roy Stoller, Jeff Donovan, Edwin S. Epstein, Jerzy R. Kolasinski and David Josephitis. Meetings and studies: day-by-day review of the 2013 ISHRS 21st Annual Scientific Meeting. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2014 Jan;24(1)15–20. doi:10.33589/24.1.0015
2013
Perez-Meza, David, Melvin L. Mayer, Henrique N. Radwanski, and Parsa Mohebi. Meetings and studies: day-by-day review of the 2012 ISHRS 20th Annual Scientific Meeting. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2013 Jan;23(1):17–20. doi:10.33589/23.1.0017
2012
Review of the 16th Annual Meeting of the European Hair Research Society: highlights relevant to hair restoration physicians. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2012 Jul;22(4):145–146. doi:10.33589/22.4.0145
Stough, Dow B. Notes from the Editor Emeritus: finasteride: the downtrodden hero of hair transplantation emerges once again. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2012 Jan;22(1):5–6. doi:10.33589/22.1.0005
2011
Cooley, Jerry E. President’s Message. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2011 May;21(3):66. doi:10.33589/21.3.0066
Perez-Meza, David. Day-by-day review of the 2011 ISHRS 19th Annual Scientific Meeting. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2011 Nov;21(6):196–202. doi:10.33589/21.6.0196
2010
Rogers, Richard. Letters to the Editors: Re: tinnitus and deafness: rare finasteride side effects. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2010 Mar;20(2):68. doi:10.33589/20.2.0068
2002
Haber, Robert S. Dutasteride for androgenetic alopecia—words of caution. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2002 Mar;12(2):35–36. doi:10.33589/12.2.0035
2001
Epstein, Edwin S. Finasteride revisited. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2001 May;11(3):69. doi:10.33589/11.3.0069
2000
Shiell, Richard C. Notes from the Editor Emeritus. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2000 Jan;10(1):4–25. doi:10.33589/10.1.0004
Shiell, Richard C. Notes from the Editor Emeritus. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 2000 May;10(3):68–69. doi:10.33589/10.3.0068
1996
Swinehart, James M. Update on finasteride. Hair Transpl Forum Int. 1996 Nov;6(6):19. doi:10.33589/6.6.19a
1994
Whiting, David. Finasteride … Should we be worried? Hair Transpl Forum Int. 1994 Sep;4(5):14-15. doi:10.33589/4.5.0014