The effect of antioxidant drugs on the self-assessment of clinical symptoms in women during radiation therapy after surgical treatment of endometrial cancer: Placebo-controlled randomized trial

Aim. Comparative analysis of the effect of methylethylpiridinol (Emoxipine), ethylmethylhydroxypyridine malate (Ethoxidol) and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (Mexidol) on the self-assessment of nonspecific clinical symptoms in women receiving adjuvant radiation therapy after radical surgical treatment of uterine body cancer.

Materials and methods. A short-term, prospective, simple “blind”, placebo-controlled, randomized study of the effect of 14-day course use of emoxipine (150 mg [0.87 mmol] per day intravenously), ethoxidol (225 mg [0.83 mmol] per day intravenously) and mexidol (225 mg [0.88 mmol] daily intravenously) on the dynamics of self-assessment of nonspecific clinical symptoms in patients during radiotherapy after surgical treatment of endometrial cancer was conducted. Self-assessment of clinical symptoms and quality of life (QOL) was studied using the MDASI questionnaire (M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory). The emotional complaints were assessed using the Giessen questionnaire.

Results. The 14-day use of Emoxipine, Ethoxidol and Mexidol in almost eqimolar single doses prevented the negative impact of radiation therapy on the self-assessment of clinical symptoms and QOL according to MDASI. This was manifested by a significant decrease in “weakness”, “sadness” and “depression”, as well as the prevention of “nausea” and “appetite disorders” during radiation therapy. At the same time, the emotional coloring of “stomach” and “heart” complaints, “exhaustion” and “pressure of complaints” decreased according to the Giessen questionnaire. The positive effect of Emoxipine, Ethoxidol and Mexidol on the self-assessment of the clinical condition and the emotional coloring of the corresponding complaints was accompanied by an improvement in such components of QOL as “general activity”, “mood”, “ability to work”, “relationships with other people” and “ability to enjoy life”. The studied drugs did not differ in the intensenty of the identified effects.

Conclusion. Emoxipine, Ethoxidol and Mexidol significantly improve the multidimensional self-assessment of the clinical condition of patients receiving radiation therapy after surgical treatment of endometrial cancer. The results obtained allow us to consider Emoxipine, Ethoxidol and Mexidol as equally effective means of maintenance therapy at the stage of postoperative radiation treatment of patients with endometrial cancer.