A prospective, randomized trial comparing flutamide (250 mg/d) and finasteride (5 mg/d) in the treatment of hirsutism.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the long-term (1 year) effects of flutamide (250 mg/d) and finasteride (5 mg/d) for the treatment of hirsutism in women.


METHODS
Randomized, prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Endocrinology at Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey.


METHODS
Seventy patients with hirsutism were studied.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients were treated with flutamide (250 mg/d) and 35 patients with finasteride (5 mg/d) for 12 months. Hirsutism score, hormone levels, and multiscreen blood chemistry were measured at 3-month intervals.


METHODS
Reduction in hair growth.


RESULTS
The modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores for hirsutism decreased significantly at months 6 and 12 from a mean +/- SD of 17. 8 +/- 5.8 to 6.0 +/- 3.4 and 17.8 +/- 5.8 to 4.8 +/- 3.2, respectively, in group 1; and from 19.1 +/- 6.1 to 14.2 +/- 4.9 and 19.1 +/- 6.1 to 11.3 +/- 5.0 in group 2, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the hormonal indices in group 1, but in group 2, E(2) and sex hormone-binding globulin increased significantly while DHEAS decreased significantly at 12 months of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that flutamide (250 mg/d) is more effective than finasteride (5 mg/d) in reducing hair growth. We conclude that flutamide (250 mg/d) may represent a more effective and well tolerated treatment for patients.
Müderris
I I
II
Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
Bayram
F
F
Güven
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005485:Flutamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D018120:Finasteride; D005485:Flutamide