Comparison of the efficiency of anti-androgenic regimens consisting of spironolactone, Diane 35, and cyproterone acetate in hirsutism.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of three different anti-androgenic drug-therapy regimens, Diane 35 (cyproterone acetate (CPA) [2 mg] and ethinyl estradiol [35 microg]) plus CPA, Diane 35 plus spironolactone, and spironolactone alone, in patients with hirsutism. In this prospective, randomized clinical study, 79 subjects with idiopathic hirsutismus were studied. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I patients (n=32) were treated with Diane 35 plus CPA, group II patients (n=25) with Diane 35 plus spironolactone [100 mg], and group III patients (n=22) with spironolactone [100 mg] alone. Serum FSH, LH, testosterone (T), and DHEAS levels were analyzed before and after treatment at 6 and 12 months. Hirsutism scores were graded according to the Ferriman-Gallwey scoring system, and side effects were monitored. All treatment regimens were found to be efficient and well-tolerated, and none of the patients stopped therapy due to any adverse event. However, in hormone screening, only patients on the Diane 35 plus CPA regimen revealed a decrease in serum T levels after therapy. As such, treatment of each hirsute patient should be planned individually, but with regard to both cost-efficiency and potential side effects, we recommend spironolactone alone in the treatment of hirsutismus.