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S Dodin

Publications and source records attributed to S Dodin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Rosiglitazone and ethinyl estradiol/cyproterone acetate as single and combined treatment of overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated insulin sensitizers in comparison/association with oral contraceptives (OC) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with insulin resistance (IR). This study assessed the effects of a thiazolidinedione versus an anti-androgenic estrogen-progestin followed by their sequential combinations in overweight PCOS women. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-eight candidates in whom elevated insulin was not normalized after 4 months of diet were randomly assigned to 6 months of rosiglitazone 4 mg/day or to ethinyl estradiol 35 mg/cyproterone acetate 2 mg (EE/CPA: 21/28 days cycle). Each group then received both medications for another 6 months. Rosiglitazone reduced insulin, IR indices [homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and quantitative sensitivity check index (QUICKI)] and the insulin area under the curve in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), but had limited effect on lipids, androgens and hirsutism. EE/CPA did not modify insulin and OGTT response but increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides and decreased androgens and hirsutism. Similar changes occurred during combined treatments. End results were highly significant in combined groups without noticeable side-effects or changes in safety parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In obese PCOS women with high insulin not corrected by diet, the combination of rosiglitazone and EE/CPA may be used to achieve complementary beneficial effects on endocrine-metabolic anomalies and clinical symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

The effects of flaxseed dietary supplement on lipid profile, bone mineral density, and symptoms in menopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, wheat germ placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Phytoestrogens are increasingly incorporated into the diet of menopausal women. However, there are limited data on the efficacy of flaxseed on the consequences of estrogen deficiency in menopausal women. The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of flaxseed incorporation into the diet of healthy menopausal women. One hundred and ninety-nine menopausal women were randomly assigned to consume 40 g flaxseed/d (n = 101) or wheat germ placebo (n = 98) for 12 months. At baseline and at month 12, serum levels of lipids, bone mineral density (BMD), and menopausal symptoms were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed under the intention to treat principle. Flaxseed reduced serum total (-0.20 +/- 0.51 mmol/liter; P = 0.012) and high-density lipoprotein (-0.08 +/- 0.24 mmol/liter; P = 0.031) cholesterol concentrations compared with wheat germ placebo. BMD did not differ significantly between the two arms. Both flaxseed and wheat germ reduced (P < 0.0001) the severity scores of menopausal symptoms, but no statistical difference was found between the two arms. Our findings suggest that 1-yr incorporation of flaxseed into the diet produced a favorable, but not clinically significant, effect on blood cholesterol and caused no significant change in BMD or symptoms in healthy menopausal women.

Bone Density↗
PubMed2004

Ability of peripheral DXA measurement to diagnose osteoporosis as assessed by central DXA measurement.

In order to evaluate the utility of peripheral measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) in the diagnosis of osteoporosis, we measured BMD at the spine and femoral neck with central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), at phalanx with AccuDXA (Schick) as well as proximal and distal forearm with pDXA (Norland) in 835 women ranging in age from 20 to 85 yr. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, where a positive case was defined as a T-score < or = -2.5 either on spine or femoral neck, the areas under the curve were not significantly different between sites. At a T-score of -2.5 as determined by each peripheral apparatus, sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 0.39 and 0.95 for phalanx and 0.75 and 0.85 for proximal forearm whereas they were 0.42 and 0.96 for distal forearm. Using optimal absolute BMD cutoff values improved the results. Sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 0.79 and 0.83 for phalanx at an absolute BMD value of 0.436 and 0.84 and 0.79 for proximal forearm at a value of 0.703, whereas they were 0.90 and 0.75 for distal forearm at a value of 0.208. Combining the two forearm measurements improves the results slightly. At cutoff values of 0.641 and 0.252, respectively for proximal and distal forearms, sensitivity was 0.83 and specificity was 0.84. Therefore, a peripheral measurement of BMD together with a good clinical evaluation of the osteoporosis risk profile of the patient, can be an interesting tool for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in areas where central DXA is not available.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2004

Very high concentrations of n-3 fatty acids in peri- and postmenopausal Inuit women from Greenland.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to examine the profile of relative concentrations in plasma phospholipids of n-3 fatty acids among peri- and postmenopausal Inuit women living in Greenland and to verify their relationships with ischemic heart disease risk factors and more particularly, with concentrations of plasma triacylglycerols. STUDY DESIGN: This study was part of a survey conducted in 2000, which aimed to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and the associated risk factors among peri- and postmenopausal Greenland Inuit women. METHODS: The study population consisted of 153 women aged 49-69 years (mean +/- SD: 55.3 +/- 4.4 y) randomly selected. Data were obtained through an interview (questionnaire on lifestyle habits, medical history etc) and a clinical session (physiologic and anthropologic measurements). Plasma samples were used to measure the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids. RESULTS: The mean body mass index of women was 27.9 +/- 6.1. Seventy-five percent were smokers and 9% were currently on hormone replacement therapy. Relative concentrations of total n-3 fatty acids were very high (13.8%, 95% CI: 13.1-14.6), with docosahexanoic and eicosapentanoic acids accounting for 4.7% and 7.2%, respectively. The ratio of n-3:n-6 fatty acids was 0.67. n-3 fatty acids were inversely correlated to triacylglycerols. CONCLUSION: These data show that peri- and post-menopausal Greenland Inuit women have very high plasma concentrations of n-3 fatty acids that protect them from ischemic heart disease.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Leisure physical activity is associated with quantitative ultrasound measurements independently of bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude of the relationship between leisure physical activity and bone status as measured either by an Achilles ultrasound bone densitometer (QUS) or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in postmenopausal women. We studied 1162 French Canadian postmenopausal women, aged 33-84 years (mean age 58 years), for QUS parameters [broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS), and stiffness index (SI)] measured at the right calcaneus, and bone mineral density (BMD) measured at the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that leisure physical activity level was an independent predictor of the heel QUS parameters and of femoral neck BMD. No such association was observed for BMD of the lumbar spine. Heel QUS parameters (BUA, SOS, SI) and femoral neck BMD adjusted for interfering covariables showed a statistically significant difference between sedentary (less than three sessions/month) and active women (three or more sessions/week) (P < or = 0.001). Furthermore, after adjusting each heel QUS parameters for the mean lumbar spine BMD value, the association observed between leisure physical activity and QUS remained significant. These results suggest that regular leisure physical activity could influence QUS parameters, independently of BMD, and that quantitative ultrasound could be a suitable outcome measure in exercise studies in postmenopausal women.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2001

Estrogen/progesterone replacement versus pravastatin and their sequential association in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess serum lipid changes in response to an oral estrogen combined with progesterone (Group A) as compared with pravastatin (Group B) and to evaluate the additive effects of the sequential addition of statin to hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and of HRT to statin. METHODS: Thirty-seven of 63 hypercholesterolemic menopausal women initially submitted to a 4-month diet were randomised to oral conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg)/micronised progesterone (200 mg) or to pravastatin (40 mg). After 6 months, each group received both medications for another 6 months. RESULTS: Nineteen percent of women corrected their lipids below decision levels with diet alone. Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased by 8+/-5% with HRT and by 26+/-3% (P<0.001) with the statin. These single medications increased high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) by 13+/-5% (P<0.01) and 11+/-7%, respectively. Combined interventions produced cumulative LDL-C reductions of 40+/-2 and 42+/-3% (P<0.001) and additive HDL-C augmentations of 16+/-4 and 23+/-5% (P<0.01) with proportional changes in apolipoprotein (Apo)B-100 and ApoA-1. These combined effects brought the atherogenic index (C/HDL-C) for Groups A and B, respectively, from a moderate (5.18+/-0.25 and 5.87+/-0.18) to a reduced (3.35+/-0.20 and 3.52+/-0.19) risk category. Triglycerides (TG) which were increased by HRT and decreased by the statin returned to baseline during combined treatments. No changes in diet, physical activity or anthropomorphometric measurements explained the lipid modifications. CONCLUSIONS: In menopausal patients with elevated C not responding to diet, pravastatin was most effective to decrease LDL-C, and oral estrogen-micronised progesterone most effective to increase HDL-C. Marked reduction of the atherogenic index is achieved by sequential combinations of medications resulting from beneficial cumulative effects on both C-LDL and C-HDL.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Short polyglutamine tracts in the androgen receptor are protective against breast cancer in the general population.

We studied the association of breast cancer with the polymorphic polyglutamine repeat of the androgen receptor (AR) in 255 incident cases of breast cancer and 461 matched controls from the Quebec City metropolitan area. Women for whom the sum of both of the AR (CAG)n-repeats alleles is 39 or less (short-allele AR genotypes) have one-half the risk of breast cancer compared with women for whom the sum of AR (CAG)n-repeats is 40 or more [odds ratio (OR), 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.3-0.83; P = 0.007]. This association is stronger in postmenopausal women (180 cases, 297 controls; OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.19-0.7; P = 0.003). We also observed an interaction between the type of menopause (natural versus surgical) and the AR genotype on breast cancer risk. Alternately, when subjects were grouped according to their (CAG)n-repeat genotype [homozygous for short alleles (CAG)n < or = 20; other genotypes ("long allele")], results were similar (OR. 0.5; 95% CI, 0.27-0.82; P = 0.007). Thus, women with short-alleles AR genotypes appear to be protected against breast cancer. Short-alleles AR genotypes were observed in 16% of the general population as represented by the control group. Short polyglutamine repeats in the AR protein have been reported to be associated with an increase in the capacity of the receptor to activate transcription of reporter genes in vitro. Furthermore, androgens have been previously shown to inhibit in vitro the growth of breast cancer cell lines. This suggests that differences in the number of polyglutamines in the AR protein may influence individual risk of breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women, and that this apparent protection could be the consequence of an increased response/sensitivity to androgens.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

[Making a decision about hormone replacement therapy. A randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a decision-making aid with an information document from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) with regard to decisions about hormone replacement therapy (HRT). DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Quebec city region. PARTICIPANTS: Menopausal Francophone women 45 to 69 years old. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were given a manual and an audiocassette describing a six-step approach to making a decision about HRT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Amount of anxiety over the decision (main outcome), general knowledge of the risks and benefits of HRT, personal expectations and values concerning these risks and benefits, and women's views on HRT. RESULTS: Anxiety levels were significantly reduced in both groups, but the difference between the effectiveness of the two interventions was not significant (P = .77). Percentages of women whose general knowledge increased and of women with realistic expectations were significantly higher in the experimental group (P < .003 and P < .0001, respectively). Congruence between personal values and decisions about HRT increased significantly more in the experimental group (P < or = .003). CONCLUSION: The six-step approach to decision making was more helpful than the SOGC's information document in increasing subjects' knowledge of the risks and benefits of HRT, in creating more realistic expectations of HRT, and in increasing the congruence between subjects' personal values and their decisions on HRT.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Determinants of the intention to adopt hormone replacement therapy among premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the psychosocial factors that influence the intention to adopt hormone replacement therapy (HRT) at menopause. METHODS: Random Digit Dialing was used to recruit 644 premenopausal non-hysterectomized women aged 45-54. Data were collected using a telephone questionnaire previously developed according to the theory of planned behaviour. Variables measured were: intention to adopt HRT (INT); attitude towards HRT (Aact); perceived social norm (SN); perceived behavioural control (PBC); and personal normative belief (PNB). Socio-demographic data were also obtained. RESULTS: Stepwise multiple regression of INT on the theoretical variables yielded an R(2) of 0.70. The determinants were Aact (beta=0.39, P<0.001), PNB (beta=0.25, P<0.001), PBC (beta=0.23, P<0.001) and SN (beta=0.12, P<0.001). Women with a strong intention to adopt HRT represented 25% of the sample. These women were more likely to believe that adopting HRT would have the following positive consequences: an improvement in general well-being, the prevention of health problems, an improvement in interpersonal relationships, an increase in productivity, the regulation of mood swings and a reduction of hot flashes. They were also more likely to believe in the following negative consequences: side-effects, an increased risk of cancer, the likelihood of weight gain, and interference in the natural course of menopause (all at P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Actions that target behaviourial beliefs regarding HRT and perceived barriers to its adoption are most likely to influence adoption of HRT.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2000

The association between heel ultrasound and hormone replacement therapy is modulated by a two-locus vitamin D and estrogen receptor genotype.

Evidence supports the role of estrogen deprivation in the process of bone remodeling and increased risk of fracture in postmenopausal women but little is known about the genetic basis of individual differences in response to therapy. In a cross-sectional study, 425 ambulatory postmenopausal French-Canadian women from Quebec (age range, 42-85 years old) were genotyped for a common Bsm I polymorphism at the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene as well as a Pvu II polymorphism in the estrogen receptor (ESR1) gene. Heel ultrasound was determined by right calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and results were expressed as an age-and-weight-adjusted stiffness index (heel SI z score). Our aim was to investigate the interaction between hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) and receptor genotypes in an effect on heel SI. Notably, a two-locus genotype (VDR-bb/ESR-PP) present in 9.5% of women was responsible for over 30% of the total HRT-related heel SI difference in the whole sample. Women bearing this combined VDR/ESR1 genotype who received HRT for more than 5 years had a 21% (1.25 SD) greater heel SI (p = 0.002) than those bearing the same genotype but who received HRT for <5 years. This may translate into a 2- to 3-fold difference in the risk of fracture. Although follow-up studies are needed, our findings suggest that QUS of the heel in postmenopausal women taking HRT is affected by variation in VDR and ESR1 loci, jointly.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Risk and aggressiveness of breast cancer in relation to plasma organochlorine concentrations.

Several organochlorines identified as "hormone mimics" were proposed as possible risk factors for breast cancer. We conducted a case-control study to assess breast cancer risk and disease aggressiveness in relation to plasma concentrations of several organochlorine compounds. Plasma lipid concentrations of 11 chlorinated pesticides and 14 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners were measured in 315 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, 219 hospital-based controls, and 307 population controls from the Quebec City area (Canada). Concentrations of hormonally active organochlorines or their surrogates were compared between cases and controls as well as between groups of cases defined according to tumor size and axillary-lymph-node involvement. We found similar levels of organochlorines in cases and controls and no relationship between the relative risk of breast cancer and organochlorine exposure. However, the probability of lymph-node invasion among cases increased with exposure to 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene [p,p'-DDE; odds ratio, 2.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20-5.35; between the highest and the lowest tertiles]. Furthermore, p,p'-DDE exposure was associated with a dose-related increased relative risk of exhibiting both lymph-node involvement and a large tumor. Indeed odds ratio raised to 2.33 (95% CI, 0.94-5.77) for the second tertile relative to the first tertile and reached 3.51 (95% CI, 1.41-8.73) for the third tertile relative to the first tertile. Similar associations were noted with beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, oxychlordane, and transnonachlor. We conclude that exposure to persistent, hormonally active organochlorines during adulthood is not associated with breast cancer risk. The possibility that some organochlorines and especially p,p'-DDE may increase breast cancer aggressiveness deserves further attention.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Bone mineral density in French Canadian women.

This cross-sectional study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck in French Canadian women residing in the Quebec city area. Data collection was initiated in 1988 and completed in 1994. A total of 747 French Canadian Caucasian women (16-79 years of age) with no metabolic bone disease were evaluated. BMD measurements were obtained using dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Anthropometric measures such as weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Medical files provided information on demographic characteristics, hormonal profile and lifestyle habits. Results show a curvilinear trend of BMD with aging. Furthermore, the peak BMD at the lumbar spine (L2-4) was reached at 29 years followed by a stable phase until 35 years, after which BMD started to decrease. The pattern of bone evolution at the femoral neck was different, peak BMD being achieved earlier, at 21 years, while after age 26 years a significant decrease was already observed. Women older than 60 years showed the lowest BMD. Regression analysis showed that age, weight and height are determinants of BMD at the lumbar spine and explained 33.9% of inter-individual variation. At the femoral neck, 29.1% of variation was explained by age and height only. In conclusion, our data suggest that French Canadian women have a different pattern of bone loss at the femoral neck compared with the lumbar spine, according to their mean BMD values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Organochlorine exposure and the risk of endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare mean concentrations of organochlorine in women with a new diagnosis of endometriosis and in controls. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Women attending an institutional clinic of reproductive endocrinology. PATIENT(S): Cases and controls were selected among women who underwent laparoscopy for chronic pelvic pain, infertility, or tubal fulguration between January 1994 and December 1994. Eighty-six women with endometriosis and 70 controls, matched for the indication for laparoscopy, were recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Mean organochlorine plasma concentrations of 14 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and 11 chlorinated pesticides were compared between the cases and controls. Analysis of covariance was used to adjust means for confounding variables, and odds ratios were estimated by logistic regression. RESULT(S): Crude geometric mean concentrations did not differ significantly between cases and controls for any of the organochlorine compounds. Similarly, crude or adjusted means of the sum of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, the sum of chlordanes, or the sum of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes did not differ between the groups. There was no significant linear trend in the adjusted odds ratios for endometriosis as organochlorine concentrations increased. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides during adulthood is not associated with endometriosis in the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Factors influencing the adoption of hormone replacement therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To develop and test the metrologic qualities of a questionnaire for a survey on determining factors in initiating hormone replacement therapy (HRT), using Ajzen's planned behaviour theory. DESIGN: Semistructured interviews to collect the behavioural beliefs needed to develop the questionnaire and the test-retest. SETTING: Family medicine practices and the community. PARTICIPANTS: In two family medicine practices, 42 women completed semistructured interviews that yielded the beliefs needed to design the questionnaire for the core survey. Thirty other women from the community took part in the test-retest 2 weeks later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The internal consistency of the constructs (tendency of answers within a group of questions) was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Stability of the global constructs (proportion of subjects who had an absolute difference in their scores of less than 1 between the two measurements) was determined using the adjusted agreement coefficient (adjusted Po). RESULTS: Findings for 12 of the 14 global constructs were above the acceptance threshold of 0.60. In one case alpha could not be measured because there was only one question for measuring it. On the test-retest, 12 of the 14 adjusted Pos had a reliability rating at or above 80%. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire developed using Ajzen's planned behaviour theory had the requisite metrologic qualities for integration into the core survey on determining factors for initiating HRT.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Phasic serum lipid excursions occur during cyclical oral conjugated oestrogens but not during transdermal oestradiol sequentially combined with oral medroxyprogesterone acetate.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Recent data indicate that oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) has limited unfavourable, neutral or even favourable effects on serum lipid fractions when added to oestrogen replacement therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum lipid fractions at the beginning and at the end of each phase of a sequentially combined replacement cycle comparing the oral and the transdermal routes of oestrogen administration. DESIGN: Randomized study with a matched control group. Oral conjugated oestrogens (OCE, 0.625 mg) or transdermal oestradiol (TE 50 micrograms) was taken from day 1 to day 25 and MPA (5 mg) added on days 14 to 25. Serum lipids were evaluated on days 1, 14 and 25 of monthly replacement cycles. PATIENTS: The early post-menopausal women in the control group (n = 11) and in the treatment groups (OCE/MPA, n = 15; TE/MPA, n = 17) were evaluated every 3 months for 12 months and every 6 months for another 12 months. MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (C) fractions and apolipoproteins (Apo) and their respective ratios were measured at months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24. Menopausal symptoms and uterine bleedings were evaluated in parallel and an endometrial biopsy was performed at the end of the 12th and 24th months of treatment. RESULTS: After 14 days of OCE, C, LDL-C, and Apo B were decreased and TG, HDL-C and Apo A1 were increased. The sequential addition of MPA accentuated the reduction of LDL-C and Apo B but attenuated the elevation of TG, HDL-C and Apo A1. These changes tended to revert toward baseline during the period free of medication. By contrast, at the end of 14 days of TE there was a non-significant reduction in TG and LDL components and a limited increase in HDL-C and Apo A1. During the subsequent addition of MPA there was no significant decrease in TG, LDL-C or Apo B but an elimination of the increase in HDL components. These combined changes resulted in a significant reduction in the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and a significant elevation in the Apo A1/Apo B ratio only in the OCE/MPA group. CONCLUSION: Overall, oral conjugated oestrogens induced favourable intragroup changes in cholesterol fractions whereas transdermal oestradiol maintained serum lipids at levels not different from baseline. The sequential addition of oral medroxyprogesterone acetate attenuated the beneficial elevation of HDL, did not affect the beneficial effect of oestrogens on ratios of cholesterol fractions and attenuated the unfavourable effect of oral conjugated oestrogens on triglycerides. The partial loss of beneficial effects on lipoproteins during cyclical interruption of hormone therapy would be an argument in favour of the evaluation of continuous regimens of oestrogen/progestagen replacement.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1995

Clinical efficacy and safety of low-dose flutamide alone and combined with an oral contraceptive for the treatment of idiopathic hirsutism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: High doses of flutamide, which is the only antiandrogen that specifically blocks the androgen receptor, have recently been used with good clinical results in women with hirsutism. Since regression of hair growth requires long-term therapy, clinical and economic considerations are important. The use of the lowest efficacious dosage could reduce costs. This study was undertaken to compare safety and efficacy of a low dose of flutamide (125 mg twice daily) alone and in combination with a triphasic oral contraceptive (OC) in women with idiopathic hirsutism. PATIENTS: Flutamide was administered orally in a low dose of 125 mg twice daily for 12 months alone in women with no risk of pregnancy or during the use of an oral contraceptive. MEASUREMENTS: Women were seen every 3 months and were evaluated for hirsutism score, hormone and lipid measurements. DESIGN: The study, which was conducted as a prospective open trial, was proposed to patients with idiopathic hirsutism, that is, with serum androgen levels in normal range and LH/FSH ratio less than 2. RESULTS: A statistically significant decrease in hirsutism score as compared to baseline was observed after only 3 months with either treatment, flutamide alone (16.9 +/- 1.6 vs 14.2 +/- 1.7, P < 0.0001) or the combination of flutamide with OC (15.6 +/- 0.8 vs 11.9 +/- 0.8, P < 0.001). Three months after cessation of treatment a statistically significant decrease from baseline was observed in the two groups. Nevertheless, at 6 months post-treatment this decrease was still significant only in the group who took flutamide in combination with an oral contraceptive. Flutamide alone does not appear to modify the levels of lipoproteins. The association of flutamide with a triphasic formulation significantly increased the HDL-C levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows beneficial effects of a low dose of flutamide in women with idiopathic hirsutism. The addition of an oral contraceptive is judicious to prevent pregnancy and reduce recurrence of hirsutism after cessation of flutamide. Peripheral androgenic blockage does not modify lipid profiles and it might reduce the negative effect of oral contraceptive on HDL-C levels. The addition of electrolysis delays the recurrence of hirsutism after cessation of flutamide.

Adult↗