[Kuntai capsule combined with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist in treatment of moderate-severe endometriosis: a clinical observation]

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Kuntai Capsule (KC), a Chinese patent medicine, in add-back therapy for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment for moderate-severe endometriosis (EM). METHODS: Totally 100 patients suffering from stage III/IV EM, who were confirmed by laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to the GnRH-a group (A) and the KC combined GnRH-a group (B), 50 in each group. Patients in Group A were hypodermically injected with goserelin (3.6 mg), once per 4 weeks. Those in Group B additionally took KC, 4 pills each time, three times per day. The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. Serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), bone gamma-carboxyglutamic-acid-containing proteins (BGP) were measured respectively. Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebra were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Serum levels of E2 and FSH both significantly decreased in the two groups at week 12 of the treatment (P < 0.05), when compared with pre-treatment. Compared with before treatment in the same group, KMI increased in the two groups (P 0.05). Serum BGP increased after 12-week treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with Group A after treatment, serum levels of E2 and FSH both significantly increased in Group B (P 0.05). As for the incidence of menopausal symptoms, better effects in improving symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disorders, and vaginal dryness were obtained in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the post-pre-treatment difference of BMI between the two groups, but with statistical post-pre-treatment difference in the BGP level (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HKC combined GnRH-a could effectively reduce GnRH-a treatment induced partial low estrogen symptoms, improve increased serum BGP levels after GnRH-a therapy.