Outcome of long-term treatment with the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride in idiopathic hirsutism: clinical and hormonal effects during a 1-year course of therapy and 1-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term efficacy of the 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride in idiopathic hirsutism.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Outpatients in a university hospital.


METHODS
Fourteen young women with idiopathic hirsutism.


METHODS
Finasteride, 5 mg once daily, was given for 12 months.


METHODS
Degree of hirsutism, graded by a modified Ferriman and Gallwey score, serum sex hormones, and serum and urinary markers of 5 alpha-reductase activity. Clinical outcome was evaluated up to and including the 1-year post-treatment period.


RESULTS
The Ferriman and Gallwey score showed a remarkable reduction after 12 months of finasteride treatment (4.4 +/- 0.7 versus 11.8 +/- 1.0; mean +/- SEM). Serum levels of the two 5 alpha-reductase activity markers, dihydrotestosterone and 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide, decreased, and urinary C19 and C21 5 beta:5 alpha steroid metabolite ratios consistently increased during finasteride administration. These changes were reversed readily after cessation of treatment. No significant adverse effect was reported. Nine of 14 women completed the 1-year post-treatment follow-up. Their hirsutism scores were increased substantially as compared with values recorded at the end of therapy, but still were lower than baseline values.


CONCLUSIONS
The 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride is effective and well tolerated in longterm treatment of women with idiopathic hirsutism. Post-treatment follow-up suggests that drug effects on hair growth are sustained in the majority of subjects with this disorder.
Castello
R
R
Divisione Clinicizzata di Endocrinologia e Malattie del Metabolismo, University of Verona, Italy.
Tosi
F
F
Perrone
F
F
Negri
C
C
Muggeo
M
M
Moghetti
P
P
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000328:Adult; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; C028895:androstane-3,17-diol glucuronide; D013739:Testosterone; D018120:Finasteride; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone