Objective: To compare the clinical acceptability of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) 1000 mg with MPFF 500 mg tablets, administered at the same daily dose in patients suffering non-complicated acute hemorrhoids.
Background: MPFF is an established treatment for hemorrhoidal disease.
Methods: This was a double-blind, multi-center, randomized study. Patients took either MPFF 1000 mg or 500 mg tablets for 7 days (daily dose; 3 g over 4 days followed by 2 g over 3 days). Adverse events were recorded in a patient diary. On day 7, anal pain and bleeding were assessed (visual analog scale [VAS] and Dimitroulopoulos scale, respectively).
Results: Patients (162) were randomized to MPFF 1000 mg (79) and MPFF 500 mg (83). No serious adverse events (AEs) occurred; 10 emergent AEs were considered treatment-related (6 for MPFF 1000 mg and 4 for 500 mg). Both regimens were associated with significant reduction in anal pain (VAS); -2.37 cm MPFF 1000 mg (P < 0.001) and -2.17 cm 500 mg (P < 0.001), with a slight trend in favor of MPFF 1000 mg (mean global reduction -2.27 cm, P < 0.001). Bleeding improved significantly in both groups of patients, 56% of patients on MPFF 1000 mg versus 61% on MPFF 500 mg. Bleeding ceased after treatment in 47% patients on MPFF 1000 mg versus 54% on 500 mg.
Conclusion: After 7 days of treatment with MPFF at the same daily dose, both regimens reduced anal pain and bleeding. MPFF 1000 mg had a comparable safety profile to MPFF 500 mg, with the advantage of fewer tablets. Key limitations: Safety study.
Keywords: Acceptability; Anal pain; Bleeding; Hemorrhoidal disease; MPFF.