Quality Assurance Program for Hair Transplant & Hair Replacement

The following email from Mr. Stephen Foote addressed concerns about long term use of systematic 5-alpha reductase (finasteride) and risk of immune disorders. The email was reprinted with minor modifications in order to fit the format of our library.

Sep, 2001
Dear Hairsite.

Thank you for your email of the 17 Sept. I am the author of the paper currently published in HairSite. My research is currently being reviewed for possible publication in the journal Medical Hypotheses. 

Because of the reaction this proposal has received to date, I would welcome the support of HairSite in my quest for an answer to the "Bottom Line" question that this generates.

The predicted effect of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like Finasteride (Merck&Co) upon tissue immunology would confirm this proposed primary action of DHT. This would have automatic therapeutic consequences in a number of gender related conditions, including more effective targeting of male hair loss.

Unfortunately, this would also demonstrate that the long term use of systematic 5-alpha reductase inhibitors would significantly increase risk of immune disorders. This is not currently recognized in the data.

Through my correspondence with Merck&Co and the drug licensing authorities, it is clear that it is now known if Finasteride has this predicted effect or not. The problem is that there is no legal obligation that specific effects of drugs be disclosed, and to date there has been a consistent refusal to respond to this question .I am now sure that if Finasteride did not have this effect, this would have been willingly stated by now.
I therefore now feel that a general awareness of this important question, would help to generate a response to this, and I would welcome your support here.
Best wishes.   Stephen Foote

2nd email to HairSite:

Sep 2001
Dear Hairsite:

Please invite your discussion group for feedback on this topic. 

I have now been involved in this matter for over six years, and I think a summary of documented events would be informative.

Initially the manufacturer of Propecia (Merck&Co) accepted this explanation for the effects of DHT upon hair growth. I have a letter from them in which they thank me for bringing this discovery to their attention.

However, once it was realized that this would question the effectiveness and long term safety of propecia, Merck&Co have refused to comment further. The English drug control agency (the M.C.A.) assured me that they would investigate this safety question.

At this time (Nov97), the publicity suggested that Propecia would be available in England within weeks on private prescription. However you will note that almost four years on, Propecia is still not being made available in England as expected. Why?

This action of DHT suggests a strategy for the effective treatment of male hair loss. In order to demonstrate the validity of this, it is necessary to confirm the predicted effects of finasteride/propecia as described in my paper. As it stands however, the relevant data is being withheld because of existing interests.

Best Wishes   Stephen Foote


To read Mr. Stephen Foote's analysis in full, please click:
The Hydraulic Influence in Androgen Related Hair Growth. Implications in Autoimmune Disease.

Any comments, please use Propecia forum below.

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