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

Author(s): Muderris II, Bayram F, Guven M

Affiliation(s): Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.

Publication date & source: 2000-05, Fertil Steril., 73(5):984-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

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 Erciyes 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 intervals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(s): Reduction in hair growth. RESULT(s): The modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores for hirsutism decreased significantly 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 1; and from 19.1 +/- 6.1 to 14.2 +/- 4.9 and 19.1 +/- 6.1 to 11.3 +/- 5.0 in group 2, respectively. 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 globulin increased significantly while DHEAS decreased significantly at 12 months 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 flutamide (250 mg/d) may represent a more effective and well tolerated treatment for patients.