SPIRONOLACTONE THERAPY IN HYPERTRICHOSIS

Although regarded as a benign condition, simple hypertrichosis may be very disturbing to a child cosmetically. An abnormality in androgen me tabolism has been implied in the etiology of simple hypertrichosis rec ently. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of spironol actone therapy for its antiandrogenic property in 12 prepubertal girls with hypertrichosis with no underlying etiology. The girls, with a me an age of 6.9 (1.2) years, had normal height and bone age, Basal hormo ne levels and adrenocorticotropin stimulation test results were in the normal ranges, Pelvic and adrenal ultrasound did not reveal pathology . Total and medullary hair width were measured from hair taken from pr eauricular, anterior midthigh, distal and proximal forearm areas, Spir onolactone was started at an oral dose of 25 and increased to 100 mg . m(-2) . day(-1) twice daily for 1 year. Total hair width decreased si gnificantly in the preauricular and anterior midthigh regions up to 6- 9 months of treatment. Medullary hair width, which was affected by the rapy to a greater extent, decreased significantly in all regions up to 6 months. Both total and medullary hair width showed a tendency to in crease afterwards. No side effects were encountered. Spironolactone ma y be used in the treatment of simple hypertrichosis; however, more dat a are needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of antiandrogen therap y in hypertrichosis.