title: Treatment of hirsutism with combined pill containing drospirenone.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biochemical and clinical effects of the combined pill consisting of ethinyl estradiol (EE) and drospirenone (DRSP) in hirsute patients. Fifty-two adolescents or young women from Greece were treated with 30 mug EE and 3 mg DRSP for 1 year. Hirsutism was evaluated by the Ferriman-Gallway (FG) score in the initial visit and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, etradiol, free and total testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were determined at the same intervals. Hirsutism improved and FG scores reduced to 77.4%, 67.2% and 51.8% at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Plasma SHBG levels rose, while free and total T levels reduced from the third month onwards. In conclusion, the EE/DRSP pill improves hirsutism in women via antiandrogenic and antimineralocorticoid action. The biochemical manifestations of hyperandrogenism are also improved.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Odisseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gregoriou
authors.forename: Kostantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papadias
authors.forename: Sokratis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konidaris
authors.forename: Kostantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakalianou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salakos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vrachnis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000736:Androstenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; C035144:drospirenone