New Roles for the Hair Loss Drug Finasteride: Treating Heart Failure

A Drug for Hair Loss, Prostate Enlargement ... and Maybe Heart Failure!
 

It is well known that androgen hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) have an important role in hair loss in those who are genetically predisposed. Recent scientific evidence also indicates that androgen hormones like testosterone or the more potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT) contribute to the development of heart failure. About 700,000 individuals die of heart disease in the USA and Canada every year.

Does blocking male hormones help improve heart failure?

Researchers from Germany recently set out to design a study to determine whether anti-androgenic therapy with the drug finasteride improves the ability of the heart to function under states of heart failure. Instead of studying humans, the researchers studied mice with heart failure.

What did the researchers find?

The researchers found the heart function was markedly improved in response to treatment with finasteride in mice. In addition, finasteride treatment also allowed mice with heart failure to live longer.  

Final Conclusions

The researchers concluded that finasteride has the potential to reverse heart failure in mice and could be a potential therapy for human trials in the future 

Reference

Zwadio C et al. Anti-Androgenic Therapy with Finasteride Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy and Left Ventricular Dysfunction. Circulation. 2015 Jan 28.