Atypical post-finasteride syndrome: A pharmacological riddle
Gupta, Sharma & Shukla, 2016
“The present case illustrates the atypical as well as so far irreversible nature of PFS in the patient as well as challenges in its management.”
Demonstrating multisystem involvement in absence of what the authors regarded to be the “typical” neurological and sexual complaints, Gupta et al. reported the case of a 33 year old PFS patient who suffered itching, burning micturition, abdominal discomfort, skin rash, and seborrhoea after a first use of 0.5mg dutasteride for a month.
These symptoms subsided with the adoption of exercise but had reoccurred and persisted after attempting hair loss therapy with finasteride 1mg four years later. Keratotic follicular papules and pustules were apparent on his shoulders and back. Semen analysis revealed pus cells and moderate growth of Enterococcus faecalis following culture. Therapeutic attempts over the following years at three centres were not successful.
