title: Pycnogenol® in postpartum symptomatic hemorrhoids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this registry study was to evaluate the efficacy of Pycnogenol® (Horphag Research Ltd.), a standardized extract from the French maritime pine bark, to control signs/symptoms and prevent complications associated with hemorrhoids in the months after delivery in healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with hemorrhoids after their second pregnancy were included within the third month after pregnancy. Pycnogenol dosage was 150 mg/day for 6 months. Symptoms for 4th and 3rd degree hemorrhoids were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The registry groups were comparable. For 4th degree hemorrhoids, main symptoms were reduced after 6 months in all patients, but the group using Pycnogenol in addition to standard best management showed more improvement. In patients with 3rd degree hemorrhoids, symptoms were reduced in both management groups at 6 months; with Pycnogenol the reduction in symptoms scores was significantly better. At 6 months 18/24 subjects (75%) in the Pycnogenol group were symptom-free in comparison with 14/25 (56%) in controls. In the 4th degree hemorrhoid group, 7/10 patients (70%) in the Pycnogenol group were symptom-free at 6 months in comparison with 4/11 subjects (36%) in the best management group. No significant side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pycnogenol appears to positively affect hemorrhoid signs and symptoms in the months after pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Irvine3 Circulation/Vascular Labs, Nicolaides Lab Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chieti-Pescara University, Pescara, Italy - cardres@abol.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gizzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dugall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luzzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corsi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bottari
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Errichi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols