Therapeutics · Hormonal Agents

Comparison of finasteride and flutamide in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism

Falsetti L, Gambera A

Published July 31, 1999 Fertility and Sterility, 72(1), 41-46
DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00183-1 PMID 10428146

Abstract

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of finasteride and flutamide in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.

Design

Randomized study.

Setting

Department of Gynecological Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Italy.

Patients

Forty-six women with idiopathic hirsutism were selected.

Interventions

Patients were assigned randomly to receive 5 mg of finasteride once daily or 250 mg of flutamide twice daily for 12 consecutive months.

Main Outcome Measures

Hirsutism was evaluated at 6 and 12 months of therapy by measuring the Ferriman-Gallwey score and the terminal-hair diameters (microm) taken from different body areas. Blood samples were taken and side effects were monitored during the treatment.

Results

Both finasteride and flutamide induced a statistically significant decrease in hirsutism scores and hair diameters at the end of 12 months. Finasteride reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 20.5% at 6 months and by 34.2% at 12 months, and hair diameter by 18.9%-23.6% at 6 months and by 29.6%-37.9% at 12 months. Flutamide reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 26.6% at 6 months and by 50.9% at 12 months, and hair diameter by 22.3%-28.2% at 6 months and by 47.7%-56.5% at 12 months. Flutamide did not induce hormonal variations, whereas finasteride increased T levels by 60% and decreased 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide by 69.5% at 12 months.

Conclusions

Both drugs were effective in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism, but flutamide was more effective than finasteride.

Topics

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Therapeutics › Hormonal Agents › Androgens and DHEA
Leopoldo Falsetti, Alessandro Gambera
L Falsetti, A Gambera
PMID 10428146 10428146 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00183-1 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00183-1 Falsetti et al. 1999, Falsetti 1999