title: New therapeutic approach to the hirsute patient.
abstract: Spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist currently used in the treatment of hypertension, has numerous antiandrogenic side effects. Decreased production rates of testosterone in intact (N = 10) and hirsute (N = 6) women, respectively, were noted after short (7 days) or long-term (6 months) administration of the drug, 25 mg twice daily. A 50% diminution in the urinary 17-ketosteroid excretion was also observed after 6 months of therapy. Assessment of the treatment was done by the patients: a reduction in hair growth rate was initially observed after 3 to 4 months, followed by the appearance of a more downy type of new growth and a decrease in diameter of the hair shaft. It is concluded that this beneficial effect is obtained by a decrease in the testosterone production rate and probably through competitive inhibition of spironolactone and/or canrenone with the androgen receptor in human hair follicles.
mesh_terms: D015068:17-Ketosteroids / Q000652:urine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000254:growth & development; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015068:17-Ketosteroids; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013148:Spironolactone; D013739:Testosterone