title: The adjuvant use of N-palmitoylethanolamine and transpolydatin in the treatment of endometriotic pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the adjuvant use of the combination of N-palmitoylethanolamine and transpolydatin in the medical treatment of endometriotic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 47 patients admitted to the Outpatient Endometriosis Care Unit of Ferrara University from January 2011 to December 2011. They were divided into two groups according to the endometriosis site (group A: recto-vaginal septum; group B: ovary). One tablet, containing 400 mg of micronized N-palmitoylethanolamine plus 40 mg transpolydatin, was administered twice daily on a full stomach for 90 days. Each patient was requested to grade the severity of dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia and dyschezia using a 0-10 cm visual analogic scale prior to beginning treatment (T0), after 30 days (T1), 60 days (T2) and 90 days (T3). The continuous and categorical variables were compared, respectively, using Student's t-test and the chi-square test. Analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to verify the reduction of endometriotic pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intensity of endometriotic pain decreased significantly for both groups (p<0.0001). The efficacy of drug treatment was significant after 30 days. Pain intensity decreased equally in the two groups except for dysmenorrhea, which was reduced more rapidly in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of N-palmitoylethanolamine and transpolydatin reduced pain related to endometriosis irrespective of lesion site. It had a marked effect on chronic pelvic pain determined by deep endometriosis and on dysmenorrhea correlated to ovarian endometriosis.
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors: Emilio
authors: E
authors: Giugliano
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Cagnazzo
authors: Ilaria
authors: I
authors: Soave
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Lo Monte
authors: Jean Marie
authors: JM
authors: Wenger
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Marci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005205:Fascia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004338:Drug Combinations; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005960:Glucosides; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D013267:Stilbenes; C005958:palmidrol; C058229:polydatin