COMPARISON OF DIANE-35 AND DIANE-35 PLUS SPIRONOLACTONE IN THE TREATMENT OF HIRSUTISM

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of Diane 35 (cy proterone acetate [2] mg and ethinyl estradiol [35 mu g]) plus spirono lactone [100 mg] combination and Diane 35 alone in the treatment of hi rsutism, Design: Prospective clinical study, Setting: Outpatients in E rciyes University Medical School. Patient(s): Fifty women with hirsuti sm. Intervention(s): Group I patients (n = 22) were treated with Diane 35 alone and group II patients (n = 28) with Diane 35 plus spironolac tone [100 mg]. Main Outcome Measure(s): The basal hormone levels total and free T, androstenedione, DHEAS, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHB G), and prolactin (PRL) were measured by RIA before the study, Foe T, SHBG, and DHEAS were also measured at 6-month intervals for 12 months, Hirsutism was graded at 6-month intervals. Result(s): The basal hormo ne levels were similar between the groups. Hirsutism score significant ly decreased at the end of the therapy in both groups. The reduction i n hirsutism score in group II at 12 months was greater than in group I , But the scores before the treatment, at 6 and 12 months were similar between the groups, Conclusion(s): Although the actual hirsutism scor e and free T concentration are not significantly different between the two groups at 12 months, percentage change in the hirsutism score at 12 months was higher in the Diane 35 plus spironolactone group, Theref ore, the addition of spironolactone to Diane 35 may have a synergistic effect on hirsutism score. (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproduct ive Medicine.