Study of QuantiFERON’s Conversion/Reversal Phenomena in Patients with Psoriasis During Biological Treatment

In a large observational cohort study conducted at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, researchers analyzed the risk of sexual dysfunction in young men under 42 years old who were prescribed finasteride (≤1.25 mg/day) for androgenic alopecia (AA). The study, which spanned from January 1992 to September 2013, included 157,998 healthy men with no prior sexual dysfunction or significant health issues. The results indicated that men exposed to finasteride had a significantly increased risk of impotence (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.06, number needed to harm [NNH] = 129, P<.00017), increased use of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (HR= 4.8, NNH = 70.2, P<.000001), and diminished libido (HR= 4.9, NNH = 201, P <.0001) compared to men not exposed to finasteride or other 5-alfa reductase inhibitors. The study concluded that there is a highly significant risk of sexual dysfunction associated with finasteride use in the treatment of AA, suggesting a need for increased awareness within the dermatology community. No commercial support was identified for this study.