Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVES: SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group trials register was searched (last search - 4 June 2002). The Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group register is based on regular searches of MEDLINE (1966 to 2002), EMBASE (1980 to 2002), CINAHL (1982 to 2002), PsycINFO (1987 to 2002) and CENTRAL (Issue 2, 2002 of the Cochrane Library) the handsearching of several journals and conference proceedings, and searches of several key grey literature sources. All publications of randomised controlled trials of cyproterone acetate with or without estrogen versus placebo or other drug therapies for hirsutism were identified. SELECTION CRITERIA: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Eleven studies were identified which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Nine randomised studies were included in the review, and two were excluded because of insufficient information. Only one study had more than 100 women included in the analysis. The major outcomes included: subjective improvement in hirsutism, changes in Ferriman Gallwey scores, changes in linear hair growth and hair shaft diameter, alterations in endocrine parameters, side effects to treatment, withdrawals during therapy
MAIN RESULTS: REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS:
Cyproterone acetate combined with estradiol results in a subjective improvement in hirsutism compared to placebo. Clinical differences in outcome between cyproterone acetate and other medical therapies were not demonstrated in the studies included in this review. This may be because of the small size of the studies, lack of standardized assessment and lack of objective determinants of improvement in hirsutism. The endocrinological effects of the different drug therapies reflect the mode of action. Larger carefully designed studies are needed to compare efficacy and safety profiles between drug therapies for hirsutism.
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Authors | Z M Van der Spuy, P A le Roux |
Journal | The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
(Cochrane Database Syst Rev)
Issue 4
Pg. CD001125
( 2003)
ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 14583927
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)
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Chemical References |
- Androgen Antagonists
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Cyproterone Acetate
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Topics |
- Androgen Antagonists
(therapeutic use)
- Cyproterone Acetate
(therapeutic use)
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Ethinyl Estradiol
(therapeutic use)
- Female
- Hirsutism
(drug therapy, etiology)
- Humans
- Hyperandrogenism
(complications)
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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