Background: The combination of finasteride and topical minoxidil has been used for treating patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, whether combining these two medications results in greater efficacy than monotherapy is a question worth exploring.
Objective: This meta-analysis aims to determine the efficacy and safety of combined treatment of finasteride and topical minoxidil.
Methods: A comprehensive search of the Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed. Data were extracted and analyzed according to predefined clinical endpoints.
Results: Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in our meta-analysis. All studies compared combined therapy with minoxidil, but only 2 RCTs compared combined therapy with finasteride. Compared with minoxidil or finasteride alone, the combined group had a significantly higher global photographic evaluation score (P < 0.00001), more patients with marked improvement (P < 0.001), and fewer patients with deterioration or no change (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the combined group and minoxidil- or finasteride-only groups in the number of patients with moderate and mild improvements, hair density change, or adverse events.
Conclusions: In patients with AGA, the combination treatment of finasteride and topical minoxidil has better therapeutic efficacy than and similar safety as monotherapy. However, the best concentration of combination treatment requires further studies with sound methodological quality.
Level of evidence iii: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Keywords: Androgenetic alopecia; Finasteride; Meta-analysis; Minoxidil.