Neuroactive Steroid Levels are Modified in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Post‐Finasteride Patients Showing Persistent Sexual Side Effects and Anxious/Depressive Symptomatology
“Altogether, these results provide a molecular basis for the anxious/depressive symptomatology occurring despite discontinuation of finasteride treatment in male patients.”
The levels of neuroactive steroids in both cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of the three post-finasteride syndrome patients were compared with those of five male age-matched controls in a pilot investigation to evaluate whether neuroactive steroids could be persistently disrupted in PFS patients.
In comparison with the healthy controls, the three PFS patients presented a significantly different neuroactive steroid pattern. Tetrahydroprogesterone and isopregnanolone were under detection limit in all three patients. DHT was lower, while testosterone, pregnenolone and 17β-estradiol was higher.
In contrast, in plasma, a decrease in dihydroprogesterone levels was recorded, as well as an increase of pregnenolone, testosterone, 3α-Androstanediol and 3β-Androstanediol and 17β-estradiol.
The authors considered this a basis for subsequent study of neuroactive steroid levels in PFS patients, as persistent changes in these neuroactive steroid levels could be involved in the anxious/depressive symptoms that form a part of the post-finasteride syndrome.
