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Finasteride in the treatment of hirsutism: new therapeutic perspectives

1996; Elsevier BV; Volume: 66; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0015-0282(16)58388-5

1556-5653

Achille Tolino, Alfredo Petrone, Francesca Sarnacchiaro, Domenico Cirillo, Salvatore Ronsini, Gaetano Lombardi, Carmine Nappi,

Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment

To determine of the clinical and hormonal effects of finasteride (Proscar; Merck, Sharp, and Dohme, Rahway, NJ) in the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism and hirsutism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Controlled clinical study. Istitute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Naples “Federico II.” Ten women affected by idiopathic hirsutism and 15 women with PCOS. Finasteride was administered orally at a daily dose of 5 mg for a period of 6 months. Rating of hirsutism with the Ferriman-Gallwey method; serum androgen assays. Finasteride produced a reduction in the average hirsutism scores (> 50% in all patients), whereas no change was observed in serum T, androstenedione, and DHEAS levels. A significant reduction was measured in serum dihydrotestosterone and 3α,17β-androstenediol glucuronide levels. This study demonstrates that symptomatic hirsutism has to be considered as a skin disease associated with the increased activity of the 5α-reductase. It also indicates that the selective 5α-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, is very effective and well tolerated in the treatment of both idiopathic hirsutism and of hirsutism in patients with PCOS.