Low-dose (2.5 mg/day) finasteride treatment in hirsutism


Bayram F., Muderris I. I., Guven M., Ozcelik B., Kelestimur F.

GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, vol.17, no.5, pp.419-422, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 17 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09513590312331290328
  • Journal Name: GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.419-422
  • Keywords: low-dose finasteride, hirsutism, treatment, 5-ALPHA-REDUCTASE INHIBITOR FINASTERIDE, POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME, IDIOPATHIC HIRSUTISM, FLUTAMIDE, SPIRONOLACTONE, DIANE-35, EFFICACY, WOMEN
  • Lokman Hekim University Affiliated: No

Abstract

This study was performed to confirm the therapeutic effects of low-dose (2.5 mg/day) finasteride in hirsute women. Our study was a non-randomized prospective clinical trial. Twenty-nine patients with hirsutism were included in the study. The patients received 2.5 mg finasteride once a day over a period of 12 months. Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, sex hormone binding globulin, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, estradiol, androstenedione, total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels and hirsutism scores were determined in all patients before treatment and at every 6 months during the therapy. The hirsutism score decreased from a mean of 18.4 +/- 4.6 to 8.4 +/- 4.2 during the study. The per cent reduction in hirsutism score (mean +/- SD) at 6 and 12 months was 29.2 +/- 14.5 and 55.7 +/- 14.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences in any of the hormone levels and no serious side-effects were observed during the treatment. In conclusion, low-dose finasteride (2.5 mg/day) is a cost-effective, well-tolerated therapeutic agent without significant abnormal biochemical findings and can be used in place of high-dose (5 mg/day) finasteride in the treatment of hirsutism.