[Acupuncture combined with western medication on chronic pelvic pain after pelvic inflammatory disease: a multi-center randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect between acupuncture combined with ibuprofen sustained-release capsule and simple ibuprofen sustained-release capsule on chronic pelvic pain (CPP) after pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Methods: A total of 144 patients were randomized into an observation group (72 cases, 10 cases dropped off) and a control group (72 cases, 9 cases dropped off). Ibuprofen sustained-release capsule was given orally in the control group, one capsule a time. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Shuidao (ST 28), Guilai (ST 29), Shenshu (BL 23) and Ciliao (BL 32), and Shuidao (ST 28), Guilai (ST 29), Shenshu (BL 23) and Ciliao (BL 32) were connected to electroacupuncture in the observation group. The treatment was given 10 days before menstruation, once a day for 3 menstrual cycles in both groups, and the follow-up was adopted 3 menstrual cycles after treatment. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of hypogastrium and lumbosacral region before treatment, after treatment, and at the follow-up, the score of local signs and the score of World Health Organization quality of life questionnaire-brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) before and after treatment were observed in the both groups.

Results: After treatment and at the follow-up, the VAS scores of hypogastrium and lumbosacral region were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (<0.05), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.05). After treatment, except for the score of uterosacral ligament tenderness in the control group, the scores of local signs were decreased compared before treatment in both groups (<0.05), and the score of uterine appendages tenderness, the total score of local signs in the observation group were lower than the control group (<0.05). Compared before treatment, the physiological scores of WHOQOL-BREF were increased in both groups (<0.05), the scores of psychology, social relations and environment were increased in the observation group (<0.05), and the physiological score was higher than the control group (<0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture combined with ibuprofen sustained-release capsule can effectively improve the symptoms, signs and quality of life in patients with CPP after PID, the therapeutic effect is superior to simple ibuprofen sustained-release capsule.