Liping Yao,1 Guoqiang Liu,2 Ting Li,3 Liping Wang,4 Yi Lun,5 Xiaoxia Wang,2 Haiyang Xu,6 and Zhiying Bai7

1 Department of Gynaecology, Shaanxi Weibei Central Hospital, North Section of West Second Ring Road, Dali County, Weinan 715100, Shaanxi, China

2 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department I, Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, No. 4, Xihuamen, Xi’an 710003, Shaanxi, China

3 Emergency Department, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, No. 777, Xitai Road, Chang’an District, Xi’an 710003, Shaanxi, China

4 Ultrasonic Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, No. 777, Xitai Road, Chang’an District, Xi’an 710003, Shaanxi, China

5 Department of Neurology, Xi’an Huashan Central Hospital, No. 8, 17th Street, Hansenzhai, East Suburb of Xincheng District, Xi’an 710003, Shaanxi, China

6 Postpartum and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Department, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, No. 777, Xitai Road, Chang’an District, Xi’an 710003, Shaanxi, China

7 Department of Gynaecology, The Fourth Hospital of Yulin (The Xingyuan Hospital of Yulin), No. 33, West Renmin Road, Yuyang District, Yulin 719000, Shaanxi, China

Address correspondence to: Zhiying Bai, Department of Gynaecology, The Fourth Hospital of Yulin (The Xingyuan Hospital of Yulin), No. 33, West Renmin Road, Yuyang District, Yulin 719000, Shaanxi, China. E-mail: moc.qq@846290115

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with mifepristone on uterine fibroids and its influence on sex hormones and inflammatory factors. Methods: Data of 102 patients with uterine fibroids admitted to Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 50 patients treated with mifepristone alone (control group) and 52 patients undergoing combined treatment of acupuncture and mifepristone (observation group). After 2 months of continuous treatment, the therapeutic efficacy, volume of uterine fibroids and uterus, levels of inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), as well as levels of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), along with hemodynamic levels and incidence of adverse reactions were recorded and compared between the two groups. Logistic analysis was employed to identify the independent risk factors for the recurrence of uterine fibroids in patients. Results: Compared with the control group, the observation group was identified with significantly higher overall response rate (P < 0.05). The uterine fibroid volume and uterine volume significantly improved in both groups after treatment, and the improvements were more prominent in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the serum CRP and TNF-α were both evidently decreased in the two groups, while levels of E2, FSH, LH and peak blood flow velocity were significantly ameliorated, and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05). Alcohol intake and treatment regime were independent risk factors for the recurrence of uterine fibroids in patients. Conclusion: Combining acupuncture with mifepristone can significantly improve uterine fibroids, estrogen and progesterone levels, as well as reduce inflammation, with a high level of safety, making it a promising treatment for clinical use.

Keywords: Acupuncture, mifepristone, uterine fibroids, sex hormones, inflammatory factors