Treatment of hirsutism with lowest-dose flutamide (62.5 mg/day)

Flutamide has been used successfully in the treatment of hirsutism. However , flutamide may cause important side-effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and hormonal effects of lowest-dose flutamide therapy . Sixty-one women with hirsutism aged 18-37 years (mean +/- SD 23.4 +/- 5.9 years) were included in the study. Patients received 62.5 mg flutamide onc e per day for a period of 12 months. A hirsutism score was determined accor ding to a modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system. Before therapy, multisc reen blood chemistry, hormonal analysis and complete blood counts were perf ormed. These parameters and hirsutism scares were repeated at 3, 6, 9 and 1 2 months during therapy. The modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores significantly decreased from 19.1 +/- 4.9 to 5.8 +/- 3.3 during the study (p < 0.0001). The percentage reductions in hirsutism scores (mean +/- SD) were 60.3 +/- 1 4.4% at 6 months, and 70.3 +/- 13.2% at 12 months. No significant ride-effe cts or modifications in the menstrual cycles were observed. There were no s ignificant differences in any of the hormone levels during therapy. In conc lusion, the lowest dose of flutamide, 62.5 mg/day, is a well-tolerated ther apeutic agent and can be used in the treatment of hirsutism.