Does Treatment with Dutasteride or Finasteride Have Impact on Renal Morphology? Experimental Study

The study investigated the impact of dutasteride and finasteride on renal morphology in male rats over 40 days. Both drugs caused significant increases in serum urea and creatinine levels, indicating renal damage. Kidney weights, volumes, and the number of glomeruli per kidney were notably reduced, with dutasteride causing more severe effects than finasteride. Dutasteride led to a 51.6% reduction in glomeruli, while finasteride caused a 26.8% reduction. The study concluded that both drugs caused morphological and functional kidney damage, with dutasteride having a more pronounced impact. These findings suggested the need for careful consideration of renal function when prescribing these medications, especially for patients with a history of renal disease.