Effects of Shixiao Huoxue Decoction on pain, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-8 in patients with adenomyosis

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effect of Shixiao Huoxue Decoction on pain and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8 levels in patients with adenomyosis.

Methods: A total of 65 patients with adenomyosis admitted to South District of Guang'anmen Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were divided into two groups according to the treatment methods. The control group was treated with pregnatrienone, and the study group was treated with additional Shixiaohuoxue decoction. The incidence of complications, treatment efficacy, levels of inflammatory factors, Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom score, dysmenorrhea score, menstrual volume score, dysmenorrhea symptom score, changes in uterine volume, level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and changes in the level of carbohydrate antigen (CA125) were observed before and after treatment in both two groups. Univariate Logistic analysis showed that uterine volume, IGF-1, CA125, serum IL-8 and TNF-α were correlated with the short-term efficacy of Meixiaohuoxue Decoction in the treatment of uterine adenomyosis (P<0.05).

Results: The levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The scores of dyspareunia and non-menstrual pelvic pain in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The overall response rate in the study group (93.75%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (66.66%) (P<0.05). The scores of Traditional Chinese Medicine symptoms, dysmenorrhea, menstrual volume, and dysmenorrhea symptoms in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The IGF-1 and CA125 levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in uterine volume was found between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Xiaoxiao Huoxue Decoction demonstrated a better treatment efficacy in patients with adenomyosis through improving dysmenorrhea and Traditional Chinese Medicine symptoms, as well as reducing the levels of body inflammatory factors, non-menstrual pelvic pain, and dyspareunia, thus contributing to early recovery of patients. Therefore, Xiaoxiao Huoxue Decoction is worthy of promotion in clinical treatment of adenomyosis.

Keywords: Xiaoxiao Huoxue Decoction; adenomyosis; interleukin-8; pain; tumor necrosis factor-α.

Figure 1

Comparison of inflammatory factor levels (x̅ ± s, ng/L). Note: There was no significant difference in the levels of IL-8 (A) and TNF-α (B) between the two groups before treatment, but the levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in the study group were lower than those in the control group after treatment. The symbol * stands for P<0.05.

Figure 2

Comparison of Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom score, dysmenorrhea score, menstrual volume score, and dysmenorrhea symptom score. Note: After treatment, the Traditional Chinese Medicine symptom score, dysmenorrhea score, menstrual flow score and dysmenorrhea symptom score of the study group were lower than those of the control group, and the symbol * represents statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Figure 3

Comparison of uterine volume, IGF-1 and CA125 levels (x̅ ± s). Note: Before treatment, there was no significant difference in uterine volume, IGF-1 and CA125 levels between the two groups. After treatment, the levels of IGF-1 and CA125 in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the symbol * indicates a significant difference between the two groups. IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor 1; CA125, carbohydrate antigen.