Are PSA Adjustments Necessary for Prostate Cancer Screening in Men Taking Finasteride for Hair Loss?

The document discusses a study that investigated the effect of 1 mg daily finasteride, a dose commonly used for male-pattern hair loss, on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations in men aged 40-60 years. The study was a multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial with 355 patients enrolled, of which 308 completed the study per protocol. The results showed that finasteride led to a median decrease in PSA concentrations of 42% over 48 weeks, with a 40% decrease in the 40-49-year age group and a 50% decrease in the 50-60-year age group. In contrast, the placebo group did not show reductions in PSA levels. The conclusion drawn from the study is that finasteride at a dose of 1 mg daily has a similar effect on PSA concentrations as the 5 mg dose used for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and therefore, PSA values should be adjusted during prostate cancer screening for men taking finasteride for hair loss.