Ketoconazole Use in the Treatment of Ovarian Hyperandrogenism

A study of eight women treated with ketoconazole for ovarian hyperandrogenism over an average of 44 weeks showed that serum testosterone and hair growth rates declined, and menses normalized in seven of the eight subjects. Ketoconazole did not affect basal or stimulated gonadotropin levels, and basal cortisol levels remained unchanged, though cortisol responsiveness to ACTH stimulation tended to be reduced. The study concluded that ketoconazole effectively reversed the biochemical and clinical abnormalities of ovarian hyperandrogenism, but recommended its use be limited to select individuals with careful monitoring and reliable birth control due to unresolved safety concerns.