Finasteride-Induced Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report

August 2002 in “ BJUI ”

C. Kouriefs, N Betambeau, C. Rowbotham, K. Coyne, M. Jordan Rowley, C. R. Jones

finasteride male-pattern baldness thrombocytopenia Propecia

TLDR Finasteride can cause low platelet count in rare cases.

A case report is presented of a 66-year-old man who developed thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) after taking finasteride for 10 months. Finasteride is commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and male-pattern baldness, and has an excellent side-effect profile. However, drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a rare, immunologically mediated, idiosyncratic reaction to many non-cytotoxic drugs. The patient's platelet count recovered after discontinuing finasteride and slowly withdrawing steroid treatment. Clinicians should be aware of this potential side effect and report suspected cases to regulatory bodies.

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Research cited in this study

2 / 2 results

research The Efficacy of Terazosin, Finasteride, or Both in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

728 citations, August 1996 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Terazosin and finasteride effectively treat BPH, but combining them adds no extra benefit.

research The Effect of Finasteride in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

1040 citations, October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine”

Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.

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