scholarly journals Comparison of finasteride versus flutamide in the treatment of hirsutism

1999 ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Falsetti ◽  
A Gambera ◽  
L Legrenzi ◽  
C Iacobello ◽  
G Bugari
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Dry Skin ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Idiopathic Hirsutism ◽  
Androstanediol Glucuronide ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Hair Diameter

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of finasteride and flutamide in the treatment of hirsutism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and with idiopathic hirsutism. DESIGN: Randomized study. PATIENTS: One hundred and ten hirsute patients were selected: 64 women with PCOS and 46 with idiopathic hirsutism. METHODS: Patients were assigned randomly to receive 5mg finasteride once daily or 250mg of flutamide twice daily, for 12 consecutive months. Hirsutism was evaluated at 12 months of therapy, with the Ferriman-Gallwey score and with measurement of the terminal hair diameters (microm) taken from four different body areas. Blood samples were taken for assessment of endocrine and hematochemical parameters. Side effects were monitored during the treatment. RESULTS: Both finasteride and flutamide induced a significant decrease in the hirsutism scores and hair diameters at the end of 12 months. Finasteride reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 31.4% in the PCOS cases and by 34.2% in the idiopathic hirsutism cases, and hair diameter by 27.0-34.1% in PCOS and by 29.6-37.9% in idiopathic hirsutism. Flutamide reduced the Ferriman-Gallwey score by 56.7% in PCOS and by 50.9% in idiopathic hirsutism, and hair diameter by 50. 3-60.0% in PCOS and by 47.7-56.5% in idiopathic hirsutism. Flutamide did not induce hormone variations, while finasteride increased testosterone levels by 40% in PCOS and by 60% in idiopathic hirsutism and decreased 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3alpha-diolG) by 66.7% in PCOS and by 69.5% in idiopathic hirsutism. No important side effects or changes in the hematochemical parameters were observed with finasteride, while two patients (3.6%) in the flutamide group expressed abnormal transaminase levels after 6 months of treatment. Dry skin also appeared significantly more with flutamide (67.3%) than with finasteride (23.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Both drugs are effective in the treatment of hirsutism but flutamide is more effective than finasteride.

scholarly journals Serum levels of 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide in hirsute and non hirsute women

1998 ◽  
pp. 421-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Falsetti ◽  
B Rosina ◽  
D De Fusco
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
The Body ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Idiopathic Hirsutism ◽  
Androstanediol Glucuronide

This study has evaluated the behaviour of 3alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3alpha-diol G) in 170 women of whom 85 had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 35 had idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and 50 had regular cycles (control group). Of the women with PCOS, 45 were hirsute (PCOS-H) and 40 were non hirsute (PCOS-NH). Women in the control group were not hirsute. Hirsutism was assessed by the same physician using the Ferriman-Gallway score. The body mass index (BMI) was estimated in all of the women. Plasma concentrations of 3alpha-diol G were elevated only in hirsute patients, both with PCOS and with IH. Even in PCOS-NH, concentrations of 3alpha-diol G were higher compared with controls (P < 0.001), but significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those of the PCOS-H and of the IH groups. The behaviour of 3alpha-diol G was not affected by BMI.

scholarly journals Oral budesonide is as effective as oral prednisolone in active Crohn’s disease

Gut ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Campieri ◽  
A Ferguson ◽  
W Doe ◽  
T Persson ◽  
L-G Nilsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crohn’S Disease ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Crohn's Disease ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Oral Prednisolone ◽  
Dose Administration ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Systemic Bioavailability ◽  
To Receive

Background—The use of corticosteroids in active Crohn’s disease often becomes limited by side effects. Budesonide is a potent corticosteroid with low systemic bioavailability due to an extensive first pass liver metabolism.Aims—To compare the efficacy and safety of two dosage regimens of budesonide and prednisolone in patients with active Crohn’s disease affecting the ileum and/or the ascending colon.Patients and methods—One hundred and seventy eight patients were randomised to receive budesonide controlled ileal release (CIR) capsules 9 mg once daily or 4.5 mg twice daily, or prednisolone tablets 40 mg once daily. The treatment period was 12 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was clinical remission, defined as a Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 150 or less.Results—After eight weeks of treatment, remission occurred in 60% of patients receiving budesonide once daily or prednisolone and in 42% of those receiving budesonide twice daily (p=0.062). The presence of glucocorticoid associated side effects was similar in all groups; however, moon face was more common in the prednisolone group (p=0.0005). The highest frequency of impaired adrenal function, as measured by a short ACTH test, was found in the prednisolone group (p=0.0023).Conclusions—Budesonide CIR, administered at 9 mg once daily or 4.5 mg twice daily, is comparable to prednisolone in inducing remission in active Crohn’s disease. The single dose administration is as promptly effective as prednisolone and represents a simpler and safer therapeutic approach, with a considerable reduction in side effects.

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