Treatment of hirsutism and acne in women with two combinations of cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol.

175 women of reproductive age, with hirsutism of differing degrees and different pathogenetic causes (ovarian, adrenal, iatrogenic) or idiopathic, and acne were treated with two different combinations of Cyprotrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (SH 8.1041 and SH B209AB). 90 patients were given SH 8.1041 and 10 were given SH B209AB. 75 received both preparations. The total number of treatment cycles was 1534. Clinical, hormonal and biochemical assessments were made before, during and after treatment. The degrees of hirsutism and acne, and of seborrhea and hair loss when present, were scored by means of a modified version of the Ferriman and Gallway criteria. SH 8.1041 brought about a significant improvement in the majority of the patients. SH B209AB was generally used as maintenance therapy for hirsutism and severe acne. It was the initial treatment of choice in patients with milder acne. Reduction of hirsutism was usually apparent after the fourth cycle of therapy and acne regressed after the first month. Both combinations were well-tolerated biochemically. In a few patients on SH 8.1042, slight and transient increases in BSP, SGOT, SGPT and bilirubin were observed, but cessation of treatment was not necessary. Some patients on SH 8.1041 complained of transient frigidity, mild depression, breast discomfort and nausea.