title: A comparison between spironolactone and spironolactone plus finasteride in the treatment of hirsutism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of the combination of spironolactone (100 mg/day) plus finasteride (5 mg/day) and spironolactone (100 mg/day) alone in the treatment of hirsutism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five hirsute women were randomly assigned to one of these two treatment groups. Hirsutism score was measured according to the modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system. Baseline and post-treatment assessments were carried out in each subject by an investigator blinded to the therapy. Both groups had similar demographic properties at baseline. The serum levels of total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured at the beginning and after 1 year of therapy. Blood chemistry and side-effects were evaluated during the study. Hirsutism scores were decreased significantly in both groups at the end of the year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percentage change in hirsutism scores from baseline in the spironolactone plus finasteride-treated group (51.3%) was significantly (P<0.005) higher than in the group treated with spironolactone alone (36.6%). Patients from both treatment groups experienced similar side-effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have concluded that a combination of spironolactone plus finasteride is a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of hirsutism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahrettin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keleştimur
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Everest
authors.forename: Kürşad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unlühizarci
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Yilmaz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013148:Spironolactone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013148:Spironolactone; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D018120:Finasteride; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone