title: Comparison of finasteride and flutamide in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of finasteride and flutamide in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six women with idiopathic hirsutism were selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were assigned randomly to receive 5 mg of finasteride once daily or 250 mg of flutamide twice daily for 12 consecutive months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hirsutism was evaluated at 6 and 12 months of therapy by measuring the Ferriman-Gallwey score and the terminal-hair diameters (microm) taken from different body areas. Blood samples were taken and side effects were monitored during the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both finasteride and flutamide induced a statistically significant decrease in hirsutism scores and hair diameters at the end of 12 months. Finasteride reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 20.5% at 6 months and by 34.2% at 12 months, and hair diameter by 18.9%-23.6% at 6 months and by 29.6%-37.9% at 12 months. Flutamide reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 26.6% at 6 months and by 50.9% at 12 months, and hair diameter by 22.3%-28.2% at 6 months and by 47.7%-56.5% at 12 months. Flutamide did not induce hormonal variations, whereas finasteride increased T levels by 60% and decreased 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide by 69.5% at 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both drugs were effective in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism, but flutamide was more effective than finasteride.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falsetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gambera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; C028895:androstane-3,17-diol glucuronide; D013739:Testosterone; D018120:Finasteride; D005485:Flutamide