The effect of cyproterone acetate on the pituitary-adrenal axis in hirsute women.
The functioning of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis was assessed in 10 adult women with idiopathic hirsutism treated for 2 weeks with the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate in a dose of 50 mg b. d. daily and in 4 patients treated for at least 3 months. Basal plasma ACTH and cortisol levels and the cortisol response to 8 h ACTH infusion were comparable before and during short-term treatment. The plasma ACTH and cortisol responses to insulin induced hypoglycaemia before and during anti-androgen therapy also were of the same order of magnitude. In the 4 patients treated for at least 3 months also no suppressive effect of the anti-androgen on basal plasma cortisol levels was observed. From these data the conclusion seems warranted that short-term cyproterone acetate treatment in the given dose not significantly influences pituitary-adrenal function in adult women with idiopathic hirsutism.
D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects*
D007328:Insulin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003534:Cyproterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone