Antiandrogen treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Although hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia are cosmetic problems, they can be psychologically devastating for women. Mechanical hair removal may control the cosmetic appearance of hirsutism, but the underlying problem usually continues to progress. Topical therapies for androgenetic alopecia provide for modest improvement at best, and no topical therapy has been shown to be effective for hirsutism. Antiandrogens, combined with ovarian suppression, offer the best hope for the improvement of hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia in women with PCOS. Improvement will occur in most women. Unless the underlying cause of the PCOS is corrected, medical therapy will need to be continued indefinitely.
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Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. rsr89794@glaxowellcome.com
D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000728:Androgens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005485:Flutamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D013148:Spironolactone; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D018120:Finasteride; D005485:Flutamide