The effects of CTR-24, a biphasic oral contraceptive combination, compared to Diane-35 in women with acne

Abstract

One-hundred-and-eighty-three women were enrolled in an open, randomized, multicentre study in which the effects on acne of a low-dose biphasic oral contraceptive containing a daily dosage of 25 micrograms desogestrel and 40 micrograms ethinylestradiol (7 days) and a daily dosage of 125 micrograms desogestrel and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol (15 days) were compared to Diane-35 containing a daily dosage of 2.0 mg cyproterone acetate and 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol (21 days) during four cycles of treatment. Clinical and photographic evaluation of acne plus laboratory assessments were done before treatment and at the end of cycle 4. A reduction with regard to the number of lesions and the degree of severity was observed in both groups. No differences were found between the two treatments in the clinical and photographic evaluation. In both treatment groups, a decrease in total testosterone and 3 alpha-17 beta-androstanediol glucuronide was observed and an increase in SHBG. The decrease in 3 alpha-17 beta-androstanediol was statistically significantly more pronounced in the Diane-35 group.