Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 663-666, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
E Carmina and RA Lobo
Both cyproterone acetate (CPA) and the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone
agonist (GnRHa) have been shown to be effective for the treatment of
hirsutism. We wished to compare the effectiveness of CPA in two standard
doses with GnRHa and add-back therapy and to compare the length of
remission after these treatments. A total of 60 hirsute hyperandrogenic
women was assigned to the following treatment groups: CPA 2 mg with 35
microg of ethinylestradiol for 21 days each month (Diane group), CPA 50 mg,
days 5-15, and ethinylestradiol 50 microg, days 5-25, each month (CPA
group) or Decapeptyl 3.75 mg i.m. every 28 days with the addition of
conjugated oestrogen 0.625 mg, days 1-21, and medroxyprogesterone acetate
10 mg, days 12-21 (GnRHa group). Hirsutism was graded by the
Ferriman-Gallwey-Lorenzo (FGL) index and anagen hair shaft diameters and
serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were assessed before and
every 3 months during and after treatment. All women were treated for 1
year with 1 year follow-up. At baseline hirsutism and endocrine patterns
were similar in all groups. After one year of treatment, hirsutism
decreased in all groups but the changes were greater (P <0.05) in the
CPA and GnRHa groups than in the Diane group. Serum LH and testosterone
were lowest in the GnRHa group. After withdrawal, hirsutism increased
rapidly in the Diane and CPA groups and after 6 months, FGL scores and hair
shaft diameters were similar to pretreatment values. In the GnRHa group,
hirsutism increased more gradually and after 1 year of withdrawal, FGL
scores and hair diameters were significantly (P <0.05) less than
pretreatment values. Serum LH and testosterone increased rapidly in all
three groups reaching pretreatment values by 6 months. These data suggest
equal efficacy of the GnRHa and the high dose CPA regimen for the treatment
of hirsutism in hyperandrogenic women. GnRHa with add-back treatment
appears to result in a longer remission of hirsutism in comparison with
CPA.
ARTICLES
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy for hirsutism is as effective as high dose cyproterone acetate but results in a longer remission
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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