Clinical Efficacy of Conservative Treatment with Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction in Female Patients with Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Introduction Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) may be effectively managed with conservative treatment in certain patients. Treatment with venoactive drugs is common, but supportive data are limited. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) in women with PCS. Methods In a single-blind, placebo-controlled study, women with duplex ultrasound diagnosis of pelvic varicose veins (PVV) and PCS were randomized to MPFF 1000 mg once daily or placebo for 2 months. Clinical manifestations of PCS were evaluated at baseline and end of treatment (M2) using three assessment tools: disease-specific quality of life (QoL) Pelvic Varicose Vein Questionnaire (PVVQ), Pelvic Venous Clinical Severity Score (PVCSS), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for the main symptoms of the disease. Results A total of 83 women were included, 42 received MPFF and 41 received placebo. In the MPFF group, the mean global PVVQ QoL index decreased significantly from 45.1 +/- 14.7 at baseline to 36.6 +/- 10.6 at M2 (mean change: 8.2 +/- 10.4); no significant change was observed in the control group (mean change: - 0.3 +/- 4.0). The between-group difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Compared with control, significant improvements were observed in all four QoL parameters (pain, physical, social, psychological, all P < 0.001). The mean PVCSS summary score decreased significantly by 3.4 +/- 3.4 in the MPFF group (P < 0.001) compared with a non-significant change of - 0.2 +/- 1.6 in the control group (between-group difference P < 0.001). In the MPFF group, improvements were statistically significant for 6 out of 10 clinical manifestations of PCS measured using the PVCSS, including pain (mean change from baseline: 0.5 +/- 0.7) heaviness (0.4 +/- 0.7), discomfort (0.6 +/- 0.7) and tenderness (0.3 +/- 0.5). No significant improvements were observed in the control group. When measured by VAS, between-group differences were statistically significant for the overall summary score (P < 0.001) and for 8 out of 10 PCS symptoms, including: pain (mean MPFF change from baseline: 2.0 +/- 2.2), heaviness (1.3 +/- 2.1), discomfort (1.5 +/- 2.0), tenderness (0.9 +/- 1.9), and edema (1.3 +/- 2.1). Conclusion In women with PCS, conservative treatment with MPFF was associated with improved QoL and reduced symptom severity. MPFF may be considered an effective and safe treatment option for PCS in routine clinical practice.