Efficacy and Safety of Ningmitai Capsules in Patients with Chronic Epididymitis: A Prospective, Parallel Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Zhang Jing; Guan Liying; Wang Zhenqing; Zhang Hui; Liu Shuai; Sun Dingqi; Fu Qiang; Zhang Keqin

doi:10.1155/2021/9752592

Efficacy and Safety of Ningmitai Capsules in Patients with Chronic Epididymitis: A Prospective, Parallel Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Mar 27:2021:9752592. doi: 10.1155/2021/9752592. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Zhang Jing¹, Guan Liying², Wang Zhenqing³, Zhang Hui³, Liu Shuai³, Sun Dingqi³, Fu Qiang³, Zhang Keqin³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nephrology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China.
² Physical Examination Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China.
³ Department of Urology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ningmitai (NMT) capsules in patients with chronic epididymitis.

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 112 patients diagnosed with chronic epididymitis. The patients were randomized (1 : 1 : 1) to receive levofloxacin (LVX), NMT, or NMT combined with LVX for 4 weeks. The patients were followed up at 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of treatment and were evaluated in terms of Chronic Epididymitis Symptom Index (CESI) scores, epididymal nodules, and safety parameters. The primary endpoints were the CESI scores at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary endpoints included the mean epididymal nodule diameter and the clinical efficacy rate. Safety was evaluated by hepatorenal function tests and adverse event reports during the trial.

Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, the CESI score of the NMT group was significantly lower than that of the LVX group (P < 0.05). In addition, the clinical efficacy rate of the NMT group was significantly higher than that of the LVX group (55% vs. 8.33%, P < 0.0001), indicating that NMT has a rapid effect on chronic epididymitis. After 4 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference in CESI scores or clinical efficacy rates between the two monotherapy regimens (P > 0.05); however, the mean diameter of epididymal nodules was significantly smaller in the NMT group than in the LVX group (P < 0.0001). Moreover, after 4 weeks of treatment, the patients in the LVX + NMT group, which had a clinical efficacy rate of 97.22%, had lower CESI scores (both P < 0.01) and a smaller epididymal nodule diameter (vs. LVX, P < 0.0001; vs. NMT, P < 0.05) than those in the other two groups. No adverse events or abnormal hepatorenal function were found during the study.

Conclusion: NMT significantly improved CESI scores and epididymal nodule diameter in patients with chronic epididymitis. The combination of NMT and LVX provides a much better effect than monotherapy, and this treatment regimen was well tolerated.