title: Long-term satisfaction and tolerability with low-dose flutamide: a 20-year surveillance study on 120 hyperandrogenic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term safety, satisfaction and tolerability of flutamide therapy for female hyperandrogenism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 20-year surveillance study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Setting: Gynecology Department in a teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hyperandrogenic women complaining for hirsutism treatment were followed between February 1995 and April 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women received flutamide 125 or 250 mg/day alone (n = 55) or combined with oral contraceptives (n = 65).
  
  
  METHODS
  Adverse events, safety, tolerability satisfaction and efficacy were assessed every 6 months during all the follow-up. Lab tests including liver and lipid profiles were also recorded in each control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients under flutamide therapy showed significant improvements in hirsutism scores after 6 months of treatment with a maximum effect at 12 months that was maintained during all the therapy time. Satisfaction reported by patients with the efficacy of the drug in a visual scale was also high. A total of 54.2 % women presented one or more adverse effects during the follow-up; 33.3% showed at least one adverse effect possibly related with the study drug; and 24.1% withdrew from the study because of adverse effects. During the follow-up, as many as 89.9 % of patients abandoned flutamide. Reasons include: questions linked to medical problems (50%), attempt pregnancy (4%) and significant improvement in the symptomatology (35.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flutamide is very effective for hirsutism treatment; however, adverse effects are very frequent and affect compliance.
authors.affiliation: a Clinic Institute of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain and.
authors.forename: Camil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castelo-Branco
authors.affiliation: b Hospital Ginecoobstetricia Número 4 "Luis Castelazo Ayala", Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social , México DF , Mexico.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández-Angeles
authors.affiliation: a Clinic Institute of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain and.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Olivares
authors.affiliation: a Clinic Institute of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Hospital Clinic-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain and.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balasch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005485:Flutamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D005485:Flutamide
keywords: Adverse effects; hyperandrogenism; safety; tolerability