Can you predict if propecia works for you? Yes, The New HairDX Test for Finasteride Response!

Every Individual anatomy is different, which is why Doctors prescribe different medication for your individual needs. An Androgen Receptor gene has been identified as a major determinant of androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) in other words male pattern of baldness. Certain variants of the nucleotide sequence on the Androgen receptor gene, known as CAG repeats, appear to determine androgen sensitivity. The Sensitivity is associated with genotype that has been associated with a myriad of physiologic effects. In hair loss it has been shown in 2 independent studies from 2 major research groups in Japan, that a lower number of CAG repeats also impacts patient responsiveness to medication therapies for AGA.

One of the most prescribed medications for hair loss is, finasteride it works by blocking the production of the androgen called DHT (Dihydritestisterone,) which is the hormone responsible for hair loss in androgenetic alopecia. The therapy which blocks the enzyme 5- alpha reductase from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone  (DHT). This treatment is an effective means to stabilize hair loss (85%) and in some cases to strengthen and re-growth hairs that are lost (66%).However there is a side effect in some people if you take this drug, only a reported less then 2% for finasteride, resulting in various types of sexual dysfunction, as well as other quite rare effects of breast tenderness or enlargement .The percentage of affected patients is very small but the threat of a side effect deters many patients from taking the medication.

The HairDX genetic test will test for how you will respond to finasteride, with giving you a score, called the CAG score. A smaller CAG test score is associated with a higher response to finasteride for treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men. It’s been discovered that men that had the best response to finasteride approximately 70% had a CAG score below 22 while men that had a subtle response to finasteride approximately 70% had a CAG score above 22.

Beverly Hills Hair Restoration is a center of excellence focused and dedicated to hair restoration surgery. The content of the blog is written solely by Payam John Kahen, M.D., a premiere hair transplant surgeon located in Beverly Hills serving Los Angeles, United States, Worldwide.

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