title: A comparative study of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and finasteride on idiopathic hirsutism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of finasteride and GnRH agonist in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty women with hirsutism were randomly assigned to receive either 5 mg of finasteride or long-acting GnRH agonist (depot leuprolide 3.75 mg) intramuscularly monthly for six months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hirsutism scores were measured according to the Ferriman-Gallway scoring system, and side-effects were monitored for six months of treatment. Blood samples were taken at each visit for assessment of endocrine (FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, total and free testosterone, androstenedione, DHEAS-S, 17-OH-P. SHBG), biochemical, and hematologic para- meters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients treated with finasteride or GnRH agonist showed neither menstrual abnormalities nor side-effects. The mean percent change (+/- SD) in hirsutism scores in the GnRH and finasteride groups was 36% +/- 14% and 14% +/- 11% at six months, respectively. Serum total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedion and DHEA-S showed a meaningful decrease in patients treated with GnRH agonist. On the other hand, only serum total testosterone and free testosterone levels decreased with finasteride treatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, respectively).
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University, Diyarbakir Turkey.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bayhan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahçeci
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demirkol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ertem
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalinkaya
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Erden
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D018120:Finasteride; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D016729:Leuprolide