A comparative study of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and finasteride on idiopathic hirsutism.
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).
Bayhan
G
G
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University, Diyarbakir Turkey.
Bahçeci
M
M
Demirkol
T
T
Ertem
M
M
Yalinkaya
A
A
Erden
A C
AC
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
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