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Valproic Acid as a Therapy for Adenomyosis: A Comparative Case Series

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Abstract

Adenomyosis is a difficult disease to manage and currently there is no investigative drug for adenomyosis on the horizon. We have previously reported in a pilot study that valproic acid (VPA) appears to be effective in treating adenomyosis. In this case series, we further evaluated the efficacy of VPA, with or without a progestin-containing intrauterine device, in the treatment of patients with adenomyosis. We recruited 12 patients with confirmed adenomyosis who complained of dysmenorrehea and had enlarged uterus. All patients took VPA for 3 months, then randomly assigned to 2 groups, 1 receiving no further treatment and the other were inserted with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) and were followed up for an additional 3 months. The primary outcome measures were the severity of dysmenorrhea and uterine size. Both measures were evaluated prior to the drug treatment and 3 and 6 months after the drug treatment, respectively. We found that VPA treatment resulted in complete resolution of dysmenorrhea and an average reduction in uterine size by 26% 6 months after the treatment, regardless of whether Mirena was used or not. Moreover, the amount of menses decreased significantly. Thus, VPA appears to be well tolerated and a promising drug for treating adenomyosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai OB/GYN Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, 419 Fangxie Road, Shanghai, 200011, China

    **shi Liu MD, PhD, Lei Yuan MD & Sun-Wei Guo MMed, PhD

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  1. **shi Liu MD, PhD
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  2. Lei Yuan MD
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  3. Sun-Wei Guo MMed, PhD
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Correspondence to Sun-Wei Guo MMed, PhD.

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Liu, X., Yuan, L. & Guo, SW. Valproic Acid as a Therapy for Adenomyosis: A Comparative Case Series. Reprod. Sci. 17, 904–912 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719110373807

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