title: Low dose ketoconazole is an effective and a relatively safe alternative in the treatment of hirsutism.
abstract: Efficacy, clinical and hormonal effect of ketoconazole in 400 mg/day dose was tested in a prospectively-designed study. Twenty four patients with hirsutism according to the Ferriman and Gallwey score (> 8) and elevated blood androgen levels were administered 400 mg/day ketoconazole for 6 months. Basal and posttherapy early follicular phase androgens and biochemical parameters were evaluated. In 22 patients significant improvement and in 2 slight improvement was seen in subjective complaints. No side-effects were observed in these patients other than 2 cases of pruritus (transient), 2 mild gastric upset and 1 mastodynia. All patients completed the study. Low dose ketoconazole seems to be effective in the treatment of hirsutism with relatively few side-effects but still should be reserved as an alternative choice due to the potential for deleterious hepatic effects.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Endocrinology Department, Dr Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gökmen
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zeyneloğlu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senoz
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Zorlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D006728:Hormones; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D007654:Ketoconazole