Articles in Hair Transplant Forum International

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Hair Transplant Forum International is not peer-reviewed.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

2022

Rogers, Nicole E. Literature Review. 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. 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. doi:10.33589/31.2.64
2019

Unger, Robin. Cyberspace Chat: Finasteride and Dutasteride for Use in Androgenetic Alopecia—and the Side Effects So Many Patients Worry About. doi:10.33589/29.2.68

Gupta, Aditya K. Literature Review: Use of Finasteride and Sexual Dysfunction. doi:10.33589/29.5.201a

Haber, Robert S. Letter to the Editors: REPLY. 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. 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. doi:10.33589/29.5.204a

2018

Rogers, Nicole E. Literature Review: Topical Finasteride: To Use or Not to Use? doi:10.33589/28.3.0112 • Full text

2017

Knudsen, Russell. Controversies: Planning vs Execution? doi:10.33589/27.5.0191

Literature Review: Finasteride and Persistent Erectile Dysfunction (PED). doi:10.33589/27.5.0199b

Rogers, Nicole E. Literature Review: Effect of 5-AR therapy on Sexual Function: Results from a Meta-Analysis. doi:10.33589/27.4.0161

Rogers, Nicole E. Literature Review: PFS: Is it real or imagined? doi:10.33589/27.3.0104

Shiell, Richard C. Notes from the Editor Emeritus, 1996–98. doi:10.33589/27.1.0005

2016

Bernstein, Robert. Bernstein’s Consent and Information on Finasteride and Propecia®. doi:10.33589/26.1.0007 

Epstein, Edwin S. Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) Update: Point/Counterpoint. 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? doi:10.33589/26.3.0112

Leonard, Robert T. Review of the ABCRC Controversies Workshop May 13-14, 2016 • Fortaleza, Brazil. doi:10.33589/26.4.0172

Marzola, Mario. Co-editors’ Messages. doi:10.33589/26.1.0003

Rose, Paul. Rose’s Consent & Information on Finasteride and Propecia®. doi:10.33589/26.1.0009 

Stough, Dow B. Coincidental Epigenetics or Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS)? doi:10.33589/26.6.0246Full text

True, Robert H. Co-editors’ Messages. 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. doi:10.33589/25.2.0061

Farjo, Nilofer P. Message from the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting Program Chair. doi:10.33589/25.2.0088

Knudsen, Russell G. Controversies: Is Finasteride Safety Data Adequately Reported in Published Trials? doi:10.33589/25.3.0099

Knudsen, Russell G. Controversies: What Would Hair Restoration Surgery Be Like If We Didn’t Have Finasteride? 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. doi:10.33589/25.6.0242

Rogers, Nicole E. Review of the Literature. 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. 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. 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. doi:10.33589/22.4.0145

Stough, Dow B. Notes from the Editor Emeritus: Finasteride: the downtrodden hero of hair transplantation emerges once again. doi:10.33589/22.1.0005

2011

Cooley, Jerry E. President’s Message. doi:10.33589/21.3.0066

Perez-Meza, David. Day-by-day review of the 2011 ISHRS 19th Annual Scientific Meeting. doi:10.33589/21.6.0196

2010

Rogers, Richard. Letters to the Editors: Re: Tinnitus and Deafness: Rare Finasteride Side Effects. doi:10.33589/20.2.0068 

2002

Haber, Robert S. Dutasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia—Words of Caution. doi:10.33589/12.2.0035

2001

Epstein, Edwin S. Finasteride Revisited. doi:10.33589/11.3.0069

2000

Shiell, Richard C. Notes from the Editor Emeritus. doi:10.33589/10.1.0004

Shiell, Richard C. Notes from the Editor Emeritus. doi:10.33589/10.3.0068

1996

Swinehart, James M. Update on Finasteride. doi:10.33589/6.6.19a 

1994

Whiting, David. Finasteride … Should We be Worried? doi:10.33589/4.5.0014