Effect of leuprolide and dexamethasone on hair growth and hormone levels in hirsute women: the relative importance of the ovary and the adrenal in the pathogenesis of hirsutism

What Was Tested

Researchers studied ACTH (Corticotropin) and Leuprolide in this randomized controlled trial publication.

Serum hormone levels and hair growth rates were determined before and after each treatment period.

There was no change in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS).

Who Took Part

PubMed indexes the participants as teenagers and adults, women only.

Ten hirsute women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO) and nine with idiopathic hirsutism (IH) underwent selective ovarian suppression with leuprolide for 5-6 months and then were randomized to receive, in addition, dexamethasone or placebo for 4 more months.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized and placebo-controlled study.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the ACTH (Corticotropin) group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Some participants received a placebo instead of ACTH (Corticotropin), giving a reference point.

What Was Measured

Serum hormone levels and hair growth rates were determined before and after each treatment period.

While initial serum androgen levels were higher in PCO than in IH, they were similar after ovarian suppression in the two groups.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Adrenal Glands, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Androgens, Androstenedione, Bone Density, Dehydroepiandrosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of ACTH (Corticotropin) and Leuprolide.

The publication is from 1990 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page and the Leuprolide compound page, all human trials.