Treatment of hirsutism by finasteride and flutamide in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Forty-four hirsute patients with polycystic ovary syndrome were randomly treated with finasteride (5 mg daily) or flutamide (250 mg twice daily) for 6 consecutive months. Hirsutism was evaluated before and after therapy with the Ferriman-Gallwey score and with measurement of hair diameter (micron). The hairs were taken from four different body areas: the face, abdomen, thighs and forearm. The measurement was carried out with a micrometer applied to the optical microscope. Mean plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin, and sex hormone binding globulin were determined before and after therapy. Hematochemical examinations and side-effects were controlled after the treatment. After 6-months' therapy, both antiandrogens significantly reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score and hair diameter in all the body areas. Finasteride reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 25% and hair diameter by 16-25%; flutamide reduced the score by 20% and hair diameter by 15.3-22%. Abdominal hairs were more sensitive to both drugs. Flutamide induced a significant drop in total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. No important side-effect or change in the hematochemical parameters was observed. Our data demonstrate that finasteride and flutamide are effective in the treatment of hirsutism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes