TREATMENT OF HIRSUTISM BY FINASTERIDE AND FLUTAMIDE IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME

Forty-four hirsute patients with polycystic ovary syndrome were random ly treated with finasteride (5 mg daily) or flutamide (259 mg twice da ily) for 6 consecutive months. Hirsutism was evaluated before and afte r therapy with the Ferriman-Gallwey score and with measurement of hair diameter (mu m). The hairs were taken from four different body areas: the face, abdomen, thighs and forearm. The measurement was carried ou t with a micrometer applied to the optical microscope. Mean plasma con centrations of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, 17 a lpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, free testoste rone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin, and sex hormone binding globulin were determined before and after therapy. Hematochemical exa minations and side-effects were controlled after the treatment. After 6-months' therapy, both antiandrogens significantly reduced the Ferrim an-Gallwey score and hair diameter in all the body areas. Finasteride reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 25% and hair diameter by 26-25%; flutamide reduced the score by 20% and hair diameter by 15.3-22%. Abd ominal hairs were more sensitive to both drugs. Flutamide induced a si gnificant drop in total testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfat e. No important side-effect or change ill the hematochemical parameter s was observed. Our data demonstrate that finasteride and flutamide ar e effective in the treatment of hirsutism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.