title: Treatment of hirsutism by finasteride and flutamide in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: Forty-four hirsute patients with polycystic ovary syndrome were randomly treated with finasteride (5 mg daily) or flutamide (250 mg twice daily) for 6 consecutive months. Hirsutism was evaluated before and after therapy with the Ferriman-Gallwey score and with measurement of hair diameter (micron). The hairs were taken from four different body areas: the face, abdomen, thighs and forearm. The measurement was carried out with a micrometer applied to the optical microscope. Mean plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin, and sex hormone binding globulin were determined before and after therapy. Hematochemical examinations and side-effects were controlled after the treatment. After 6-months' therapy, both antiandrogens significantly reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score and hair diameter in all the body areas. Finasteride reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 25% and hair diameter by 16-25%; flutamide reduced the score by 20% and hair diameter by 15.3-22%. Abdominal hairs were more sensitive to both drugs. Flutamide induced a significant drop in total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. No important side-effect or change in the hematochemical parameters was observed. Our data demonstrate that finasteride and flutamide are effective in the treatment of hirsutism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falsetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Fusco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eleftheriou
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosina
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D018120:Finasteride; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D005485:Flutamide; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone