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A comparative study of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and finasteride on idiopathic hirsutism
G Bayhan1, M Bahçeci, T Demirkol
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dicle University, Diyarbakir Turkey.
Objective:
To compare the efficacy of finasteride and GnRH agonist in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.
Methods:
Sixty women with hirsutism were randomly assigned to receive either 5 mg of finasteride or long-acting GnRH agonist (depot leuprolide 3.75 mg) intramuscularly monthly for six months.
Main Outcome Measures:
Hirsutism scores were measured according to the Ferriman-Gallway scoring system, and side-effects were monitored for six months of treatment. Blood samples were taken at each visit for assessment of endocrine (FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, total and free testosterone, androstenedione, DHEAS-S, 17-OH-P. SHBG), biochemical, and hematologic para- meters.
Results:
All of the patients treated with finasteride or GnRH agonist showed neither menstrual abnormalities nor side-effects. The mean percent change (+/- SD) in hirsutism scores in the GnRH and finasteride groups was 36% +/- 14% and 14% +/- 11% at six months, respectively. Serum total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedion and DHEA-S showed a meaningful decrease in patients treated with GnRH agonist. On the other hand, only serum total testosterone and free testosterone levels decreased with finasteride treatment (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, respectively).
