Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42565959›Full record

ArticleDermatology and therapy2026

Spironolactone versus Bicalutamide for Female Pattern Hair Loss: A 24-Month Unicenter Retrospective Comparative Study of Effectiveness and Safety.

Rocío Gil-Redondo, Juan Jimenez-Cauhe, Adrián Imbernon-Moya, Diego Buendía-Castaño, Patricia Burgos Blasco, Borja Díaz-Guimaraens, Miguel Domínguez-Santas, Ángela Hermosa-Gelbard, David Saceda-Corralo, Sergio Vañó-Galván

Abstract read
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Article in Dermatology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Rocío Gil-RedondoHair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain. rociogilredondo@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3794-0402
Juan Jimenez-CauheHair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.
Adrián Imbernon-MoyaHair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.
Diego Buendía-CastañoHair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.
Patricia Burgos BlascoHair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.
Borja Díaz-GuimaraensDepartment of Dermatology, Olympia Medical Center, Madrid, Spain.
Miguel Domínguez-SantasDepartment of Dermatology, Olympia Medical Center, Madrid, Spain.
Ángela Hermosa-GelbardHair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.
David Saceda-Corralo *Hair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.
Sergio Vañó-Galván *Hair Disorders Unit, Grupo de Dermatología Pedro Jaén, Madrid, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFemale pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a chronic, progressive condition that affects quality of life. Off-label systemic antiandrogens are increasingly used, but comparative data remain limited.

methodsTo compare the effectiveness, safety, and healthcare resource utilization of spironolactone versus bicalutamide in FPHL over 24 months, we conducted a unicenter retrospective cohort study of women with FPHL treated between 2018 and 2022. The primary outcome was mean change in Sinclair grade from baseline to month 24. Secondary outcomes included ≥ 1 grade improvement, adverse events, and healthcare utilization. Linear and ordinal logistic regression models were adjusted for baseline severity.

resultsA total of 187 women (median age 35 years, range 15-69 years) completed 24 months of follow-up. Both drugs produced significant Sinclair grade improvement (mean change -0.5, p < 0.001). Spironolactone (n = 128) was superior, with 54.4% achieving ≥ 1 grade improvement versus 37.3% with bicalutamide (n = 59) (p = 0.030). High-dose spironolactone (> 100 mg/day, median 130 mg/day) showed greater benefit than the maximum bicalutamide dose (50 mg/day). Adverse event rate was similar, but bicalutamide caused more laboratory abnormalities and required closer monitoring.

conclusionsBoth drugs are effective systemic options. Spironolactone, particularly > 100 mg/day, demonstrated greater efficacy, comparable safety, and less monitoring, supporting its potential role as first-line systemic option.

Indexed as

Androgenetic alopeciaAntiandrogensBicalutamideComparative effectivenessFemale pattern hair lossHair loss treatmentHypertrichosisMinoxidilSafety profileSeborrheaSinclair scaleSpironolactone

Identifiers

PMID42565959
PMCPMC13558485

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.