PROLONGED TREATMENT OF HIRSUTISM WITH FLUTAMIDE ALONE IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME

Hirsutism is a common symptom of women affected by polycystic ovary sy ndrome (PCOS). The effectiveness of the antiandrogen flutamide alone w as studied in 25 patients affected by PCOS with severe hirsutism for p eriod of 24 months. Seventeen of these patients had not been treated b efore and eight had had previous but unsatisfactory therapy. Nineteen patients showed a normal body weight (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) whereas six we re obese (BMI > 35 kg/m(2)). A chemical and endocrinological evaluatio n and an assessment of the degree of hirsutism, assigned by Ferriman-G allwey score (mean 22 +/- 3.038), was performed under baseline conditi ons. Patients started treatment with flutamide (Eulexin(R), Schering-P lough, Kenilworth, USA) at the dose of 500 mg daily. A chronobiologica l assessment of gonadotropin episodic secretion and of gonadotropin re sponse to GnRH challenge (10 mu g in bolus) was done before and on day 7 of flutamide administration. During treatment, our patients showed a marked and significant reduction of hirsutism starting from a score of 6 and reaching the maximum (9.6 + 2.1) at 24 months of therapy. No relevant hormonal changes or side-effects were observed during therapy . our data demonstrate that hirsutism in PCOS can rapidly and markedly respond to treatment with flutamide alone without important side-effe cts even if administered for a long period.