A clinical study on the efficacy of a novel herbal medicine cocktail in enhancing HIFU treatment for adenomyosis: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Ting Lin, Lin T, Minqi Su, Su M, Yan Chen, Chen Y, An J, Junli An, Xueqiong Xu, Xu X, Xuemei Chen, Chen X, Gang Wu, Wu G, Wang H, Haifeng Wang, Cai Y, Yunfeng Cai, Li M, ManLing Li, Zhou L, Liuyun Zhou, Yang J, Jiali Yang, Liu J, Jingjing Liu, Wang S, Sangui Wang, Wang Q, Quanlei Wang
International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group · 2026 · vol. 43(1) , pp. 2729542 · doi:10.1080/02656736.2026.2729542 · PMID:42788264 · W7214308302
rct OA: gold public-domain-us
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This pilot randomized controlled trial found that adding a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula to High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment for adenomyosis significantly reduced pain, uterine volume, and inflammatory markers compared to ultrasound alone.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy and potential mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) combined with High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of adenomyosis, providing evidence-based support for optimizing clinical treatment strategies. METHODS: In this prospective randomized trial, 66 patients were assigned to a control group (HIFU alone) or an observation group (HIFU plus a "Yiqi Huoxue, Huayu Sanjie" TCM formula) for 12 weeks. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain as the primary endpoint, and the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) for menstrual blood loss, uterine/lesion volumes, and serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), interleukin-6 (IL-6) as exploratory outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: The results showed that the VAS scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment (p < 0.05). The reduction in uterine volume and lesion volume was greater in the observation group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of CA125 and IL-6 decreased more significantly in the observation group (p < 0.05), and no significant abnormalities were observed in safety indicators. CONCLUSION: The combination of TCM and HIFU treatment suggests a possible benefit in alleviating dysmenorrhea and promoting lesion absorption in patients with adenomyosis. The observed changes in inflammatory status and CA125 levels hint at a potential link with the therapeutic effect. However, these findings should be considered exploratory, and further studies are needed to validate TCM as an adjunctive therapy to HIFU treatment.

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MeSH descriptors

Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Adenomyosis Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal Drugs, Chinese Herbal

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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