Therapeutics · Hormonal Agents

Comparison of finasteride versus spironolactone in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism

Erenus M, Yücelten D, Durmuşoğlu F, Gürbüz O

Published December 1997 Fertility and Sterility, 68(6), 1000-1003
DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00371-3 PMID 9418687

Abstract

Objective

To compare the efficacy of finasteride and spironolactone in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.

Design

Prospective, randomized, single-blind study.

Setting

A tertiary hirsutism clinic.

Patients

Forty women with idiopathic hirsutism were selected.

Interventions

Patients were assigned randomly to receive either 5 mg of finasteride or 100 mg of spironolactone for 9 months.

Main Outcome Measures

Hirsutism scores were measured according to the Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system, and side effects were monitored for 9 months of treatment. Blood samples were taken at each visit for assessment of endocrine, biochemical, and hematologic parameters.

Results

Hirsutism scores were decreased significantly in both groups at the end of 9 months. The mean percent change (+/- SD) in hirsutism scores in the finasteride and spironolactone groups was as follows: 5.91% +/- 7.18% and 20.60% +/- 12.59% at 3 months, 10.61% +/- 12.18% and 32.57% +/- 15.68% at 6 months, and 15.15% +/- 15.38% and 42.36% +/- 12.31% at 9 months, respectively. There was a significantly better response with spironolactone treatment at the end of 9 months. Eleven (55%) of 20 patients in the spironolactone group experienced side effects. However, none of them stopped treatment because of side effects.

Conclusions

The present data suggest that both finasteride and spironolactone are effective in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism. However, it appears that the spironolactone group responded significantly better.

Topics

By this author

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Therapeutics › Hormonal Agents › Androgens and DHEA
Mithat Erenus, Deniz Yücelten, Fatih Durmuşoğlu, Oya Gürbüz
M Erenus, D Yücelten, F Durmuşoğlu, O Gürbüz
PMID 9418687 9418687 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00371-3 10.1016/s0015-0282(97)00371-3 Erenus et al. 1997, Erenus 1997