[Clinical study on effect of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. on uterin leiomyoma].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the therapeutic effect of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. on patients with uterine leiomyoma.

METHODS

Baseline ultrasound examinations of myomas and uterine were obtained and repeated three months, six months after treatment. Blood samples were collected in the mid-follicular or mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle before initiation of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. therapy and after treatment 3-4 months and 5-6 months, for determination of estradiol, progesteron, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and prolactin by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

Significant decrease in leiomyoma volume was detected in 39 of 65 (60.0%) patients after 3-4 months of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. treatment and 28 of 40 (70.0%) patients after 5-6 months of treatment. The decrease in leiomyoma volume with Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. treatment was time-dependent while 27.84% in 3-4 months, 51.6% in 5-6 months. 25 of 65 patients were amenorrheic during the course of treatment. Compared with pretreatment values, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. treatment induced an increase in mean luteinizing hormone, fdlicle-stimulating hormone levels and a decrease in mean estradiol, progesterone levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. may be an effective therapeutic agent for leiomyomas with fewer side effects. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. treatment showed a reversibly inhibitory effect on the ovary. It may be one of the mechanisms of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. in decreasing leiomyoma volume.