Antiandrogenic Therapy With Finasteride Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy and Left Ventricular Dysfunction

The study found that finasteride, an antiandrogenic therapy commonly used to treat hair loss and benign prostate hyperplasia, can reduce cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction in male and female mice. Finasteride was found to reduce DHT levels and androgen receptor activation, leading to reduced heart weight, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, and fibrosis in mice with pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, finasteride improved left ventricular systolic function and reduced cardiac dilation. The study suggests that finasteride may act through a similar cellular target as other antiandrogenic therapies, such as those used to treat prostate cancer.