A prospective, randomized trial comparing flutamide (250 mg/d) and finasteride (5 mg/d) in the treatment of hirsutism

Objective: To compare the long-term (1 year) effects of flutamide (250 mg/d ) and finasteride (5 mg/d) For the treatment of hirsutism in women. Design: Randomized, prospective clinical study. Setting: Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Endocrinology at Erci yes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey. Patient(s): Seventy patients with hirsutism were studied. Intervention(s): Thirty-five patients were treated with flutamide (250 mg/d ) and 35 patients with finasteride (5 mg/d) for 12 months. Hirsutism score, hormone levels, and multiscreen blood chemistry were measured at 3-month i ntervals. Main Outcome Measure(s): Reduction in hair growth. Result(s): The modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores for hirsutism decreased sig nificantly at months 6 and 12 from a mean +/- SD of 17.8 +/- 5.8 to 6.0 +/- 3.4 and 17.8 +/- 5.8 to 4.8 +/- 3.2, respectively, in group I;and from 19. 1 +/- 6.1 to 14.2 +/- 4.9 and 19.1 +/- 6.1 to 11.3 +/- 5.0 in group 2, resp ectively. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the hormonal indices in group 1, but in group 2, E-2 and sex hormone-binding g lobulin increased significantly while DHEAS decreased significantly at 12 m onths of therapy. Conclusion(s): This study shows that flutamide (250 mg/d) is more effective than finasteride (5 mg/d) in reducing hair growth. We conclude that flutam ide (250 mg/d) may represent a more effective and well tolerated treatment for patients. (Fertil Steril(R) 2000:73:984-7. (C) 2000 by American Society For Reproductive Medicine).