Clinical efficacy of complex antioxidant therapy for pelvic varicose veins in women: A prospective non-randomized controlled study

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the clinical efficacy of complex antioxidant therapy (CAT) in the treatment of patients with pelvic varicose veins (PVV). Materials and methods. Patients with PVV (n=150) were divided into groups 1 and 2 of 75 subjects; the groups were comparable. Treatment in both groups included standard therapy with one of the venotropic agents (60 days). Patients of group 1 additionally received CAT for 30 days (1 course), in total 3 courses with 2-month intervals. Results. When assessing the parameters of the lipoperoxidation system (antioxidant protection) in group 1 during CAT combined with standard venotropic therapy, there was a statistically significant decrease in the levels of lipid hydroperoxides (p0.0001), diene conjugates (p=0.001), malonic dialdehyde (p0.0001), an increase in the levels of catalase (p0.0001), superoxide dismutase (p0.0001), glutathione peroxidase (p0.0001), glutathione reductase (p0.0001), glutathione-S-transferase (p=0.002) and the reduced glutathione content (p=0.032) compared to levels before treatment. The above group showed a decrease in the diameter of the pelvic varicose veins: internal iliac (p0.001), ovarian (p0.0001) and arcuate (p0.001), an increase in their blood flow velocity (p=0.003, 0.041, and 0.040, respectively), a decrease in the duration of retrograde flow to 0.3 cm. There was a decrease in pelvic pain (p0.0001), dysmenorrhea (p=0.024), dyspareunia (p=0.037), the frequency of irregular menstruation (p=0.031), an improvement in quality of life (p=0.047), pregnancy rate (p=0.013), the number of live births (p=0.004), and the duration of remission (p=0.047). Conclusion. The use of a combination of antioxidants superoxide dismutase 250 mg 2 times a day, acetyl-glutathione at 100 mg 2 times a day, and astaxanthin 400 mg/day for 30 days in 3 courses with 2-month intervals combined with venotropic therapy can significantly improve the treatment outcomes of patients with PVV.