title: Clinical and endocrine effects of flutamide in hyperandrogenic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinical and endocrine effects of the antiandrogen flutamide in hirsute women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hirsutism was assessed before and after 3 months of treatment with flutamide 500 mg/d. Endocrine evaluations were performed before and during the 2nd month of treatment with flutamide 500 mg or 750 mg/d.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pisa, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen hirsute women were studied: nine women were hyperandrogenic, and the other 9 had an idiopathic hirsutism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were randomly treated with flutamide 500 mg/d (9 patients) or 750 mg/d (9 patients) for 3 and 2 months, respectively. Six received placebo 1 month before flutamide treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hirsutism was assessed by measuring hair diameter. Follicle-stimulating hormone and LH responses to GnRH were evaluated. Basal plasma levels of T, androstenedione (A), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), DHEAS, cortisol (F), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were evaluated. The same hormones were determined after a single dose of flutamide (250 or 500 mg) or placebo throughout a 12-hour period and in samples collected 60 and 120 minutes after ACTH intravenous injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hair diameter was reduced by 30%. Both dosages of flutamide did not change basal and stimulated gonadotropin, T, A, 17-OHP, F, and SHBG levels. Both dosages reduced stimulated DHEAS levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flutamide may have a beneficial effect on hirsutism. This effectiveness is mainly due to its peripheral antiandrogen action. However, an effect on the adrenal gland seems to be present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fruzzetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Lorenzo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fioretti
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005485:Flutamide; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008598:Menstruation / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006728:Hormones; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D005485:Flutamide; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone