Aphalangia Possibly Linked to Unintended Use of Finasteride During Early Pregnancy

March 2009 in “ Annals of Saudi Medicine ”

Bahauddin Sallout, Khalid A Al Wadi

finasteride 5-alpha reductase inhibitor benign prostatic hyperplasia teratogenic effects external genital abnormalities limb deformities in utero exposure Propecia

Studysummary Finasteride use during early pregnancy may cause limb deformities in babies.

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This article reports a case of a woman who unintentionally used finasteride during early pregnancy and gave birth to a baby girl with unilateral hand and toe deformities. Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and is not FDA-approved for use in women due to its teratogenic effects on male fetuses. Animal studies have shown external genital abnormalities in male fetuses exposed to the drug in utero. This case report suggests a possible association between finasteride use during pregnancy and limb deformities in the fetus.

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Research cited in this study

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research Effects of Finasteride, a Type 2 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor, on Fetal Development in the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca Mulatta)

67 citations , February 1997 in “Teratology”

This study demonstrated that high oral doses of finasteride caused external genital abnormalities in male rhesus monkey fetuses, but intravenous doses did not lead to abnormalities.

research External Genitalia Abnormalities in Male Rats Exposed In Utero to Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

122 citations , July 1990 in “Teratology”

This study found that oral administration of finasteride to pregnant rats caused dosage-related developmental toxicities, including hypospadias and decreased anogenital distance in male offspring.