Ginsenoside Rg3 in combination with surgery in patients with stage III-IV endometriosis: a clinical control trial

Objective To compare the effects of ginsenoside Rg3 and gestrinone on clinical outcomes and side-effects in patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ postoperative endometriosis. Methods A cohort of 62 consecutive patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ postoperative endometriosis were assigned into study group (n=32) to receive ginsenoside Rg3 therapy (20 mg, orally, once daily) for 3 successive months as a treatment course, and positive control group (n=30) to be treated with gestrinone (2.5 mg, orally, twice weekly) for 3 consecutive months as a treatment course, respectively. Remission of symptoms and signs, alteration in serum CA125 and VEGF, variation in liver function and side-effects were compared for assessment of efficacy and safety. Follow-up studies were scheduled at months 1 and 3 postoperatively. Results Both groups yielded marked amelioration in dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia (both P0.05), no considerable difference was revealed between both groups (all P0.05). Treatments were associated with marked remission of signs (P0.05) in spite of statistically insignificant between-group difference (P0.05). Serum CA125 declined with time (P0.01), yet lacking statistical significance (P0.05) for between-group comparison. At month 3 postoperatively, study group was found to present lower serum VEGF than preoperative level and control group (both P0.05). Study group did not show evidence of altered serum ALT, AST and GGT after treatment (all P0.05), and by contrast, positive control group was noted as having elevated serum ALT and AST at months 1 and 3 after treatment (all P0.05). Between-group comparison yielded statistical difference (P0.05) in the slight increase in GGT at month 3 after treatment (P0.05). Lower incidence of side-effects (P0.01) was reported in the study group, but not in positive control group. Conclusion Postoperative administration of adjuvant medication is associated with satisfactory outcomes in patients with endometriosis. Ginsenoside Rg3 achieved equivalently high efficacy, low incidence rate of side-effects in addition to absence of adverse impact on liver function and menstruation as compared with gestrinone, thus allowing it to be considered as clinically effective adjuvant medication in patients with endometriosis who underwent conservative operation.