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THE EFFECT OF SPIRONOLACTONE ON HIRSUTISM AND FEMALE ANDROGEN METABOLISM
Author(s) -
DORRINGTONWARD P.,
MCCARTNEY A. C. E.,
HOLLAND S.,
SCULLY J.,
CARTER G.,
ALAGHBANDZADEH J.,
WISE P.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1985.tb00211.x
Subject(s) - spironolactone , hirsutism , medicine , basal (medicine) , endocrinology , androgen , testosterone (patch) , aldosterone , hormone , polycystic ovary , insulin resistance , insulin
SUMMARY An objective evaluation of the anti‐androgen effects of spironolactone was performed in a consecutive series of 12 hirsute patients receiving a daily dose of 150 mg; nine completed the study. Using a computer assisted image analyser, hair diameter on two weekly shavings decreased significantly over a 12 month period in three of the patients, although growth rate and mean diameter did not change in the group as a whole. Plasma testosterone fell significantly to a mean of 53% of basal levels. The mean free testosterone (derived) fell significantly to 64% of basal by the sixth month ( P = > 0·005) and remained significantly depressed for the remainder of the study. There was subjective benefit in hair growth and greasiness and a significant reduction in the semi‐objective Ferriman‐Gallwey index in nine of 10 subjects assessed for at least 9 months. We conclude that although spironolactone was not consistently successful, it may represent effective therapy for a sub group of patients with hirsutism.