Clinical evaluation of mifepristone added after laparoscopy in treatment of patients with endometriosis

AIM: To evaluate the clinical effects and side effects of lower dosage of mifepristone added after the conservative laparoscopy in the treatment of patients with endometriosis and the influences on the pregnancy and relapse rates within one year after the mifepristone was withdrawed. METHODS: 158 cases of endometriosis patients with laparoscopic confirmation were orally administration either mifepristone 10 (mg·d~(-1)) (group M, n=82) or gestrinone (2.5) mg, twice every week(group G, n=78) for 3 months. The clinical symptoms, signs and side effects before and duration of the treatment in both two groups as well as their relapse rate and pregnancy rate one year later after the drug withdrawed were observed and compared. RESULTS: The clinical symptoms and signs in both two groups were significantly improved during the treatment(P(0.01)). Side effects including weight gain, acne, liver function damage, hot flushes, vaginal dryness and irregular bleeding in group M were less than those in group G (P(0.01)). The average time for the restoration of ovulation and menstruation after drug withdrawing in group M was earlier than that in group G (P(0.05)). The pregnancy rates of the infertile women in group M and G within one year after the drug withdrawing were (36.59)% and (38.16)%, respectively, and there was no statistic significance between two groups (P(0.05)). The symptom relapse rates in group M and G within one year after drug withdrawing were similar, and there was no difference between them (P(0.05)). CONCLUSION: Lower dosage of mifepristone added after the conservative laparoscopy can not only effectively control the symptoms of patients with endometriosis and improve the pregnancy rate for those complicated with infertility but also have the advantages of fewer side effects, convenient usage and economic price.