Comparative Study Between The Efficacy Of Topical Sildenafil And Topical Minoxidil In The Treatment Of Male Androgenic Alopecia

Abstract

ndrogenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in males and manifests as a gradual conversion of terminal hairs into vellus-like hairs, called miniaturized hairs. Several treatment lines were prescribed for treatment of AGA. Minoxidil was the first drug to be approved in treatment of AGA, it acts through increasing cutaneous blood flow and enhancing levels of VEGF and hair growth promoters in dermal papilla. Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of PDE5 and was originally developed as an anti-anginal medication. Sildenafil enhances proliferation of hDPCs and up-regulates the mRNA expression of VEGF and PDGF, which are responsible for hair growth. The current study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety and side effects of topical sildenafil and topical minoxidil in the treatment of AGA. This study included 30 patients with AGA divided into 2 groups, group I received 1% of topical sildenafil twice daily for 6 months and group II received 5% of topical minoxidil twice daily for 6 months. Sildenafil treated group showed statistically significnat increase in VH and TH count at 18 cm point, 24 cm point after treatment compared to before treatment. While, temporal side showed statistically significnat increase in VH only, minoxidil treated group showed statistically significant increase in TH count, Hair thickness at 18 cm point and temporal side after treatment compared to before treatment. VH count was significnatly decreased after treatment compared to before treatment at 18 cm point. At 24 cm point,only TH was significantly increased after treatment compared to before treatment.