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Efficacy of phloroglucinol for the treatment of pain of gynaecologic or obstetrical origin: a systematic review of literature of randomised controlled trials

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A Correction to this article was published on 23 November 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose

Antispasmodics like phloroglucinol are commonly used to alleviate pain. Various authorities recommend the use of this drug for conditions such as dysmenorrhoea, threatened abortion or labour pains. The goal was to carry out a systematic review analysing the existing data concerning the efficacy of phloroglucinol to treat pain in obstetrical or gynaecologic cases. The protocol was registered in Prospero (CRD 42018094065).

Methods

The keywords “phloroglucinol” and “randomised controlled trials” were used to search Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library. We selected randomised, controlled against placebo trials testing the effect of phloroglucinol on gynaecologic or obstetrical pain either as a primary or secondary endpoint. We excluded trials exploring pain caused by intestinal, renal, metabolic or other causes and trials that were not available for critical review in either English or French. A quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) was planned if the included trials were sufficiently homogenous. If this were not the case, a descriptive synthesis would be presented.

Results

Twelve trials identified studied the effect of phloroglucinol in gynaecologic or obstetrical conditions. Only two trials corresponded to the inclusion criteria of this review, one of which was not available for critical review.

Conclusions

Phloroglucinol is not well evaluated in this field. Whether for labour pains, abortion pains or benign gynaecologic pains, the results found are insufficient to promote the use of this drug in these indications.

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Data availability

Dr. Blanchard had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Change history

  • 23 November 2019

    The correct presentation of the Author names are shown in this paper.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Medicine, University of Poitiers, 6 rue de la Milétrie, TSA 51115, 86073, Poitiers Cedex 9, France

    Blanchard Clara, Vanderkam Paul & Mignot Stéphanie

  2. Clinical Research Unit, Henri Laborit Hospital, 370 avenue Jacques Cœur, CS 10587, 86021, Poitiers, France

    Vanderkam Paul

  3. Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Poitiers, INSERM, U-1084, Poitiers, France

    Vanderkam Paul

  4. Department of General Medicine, University of Tours, 10 boulevard Tonnelé, 37032, Tours Cedex 1, France

    Pouchain Denis

  5. Department of General Medicine and UPU ACCePPT, University of Auvergne, 18 place Henri Dunant, BP 38, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Vaillant-Roussel Hélène

  6. College of General Medicine, University of Lyon, 8 avenue Rockfeller, 69373, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    Boussageon Rémy

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  1. Blanchard Clara
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Contributions

Dr. Blanchard and Dr. Boussageon: study concept and design.

Dr. Blanchard, Dr. Vaillant-Roussel and Dr. Boussageon: acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.

Dr. Blanchard: drafting of the manuscript.

Dr. Mignot, Dr. Vanderkam and Dr. Pouchain: critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.

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Correspondence to Blanchard Clara.

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Clara, B., Paul, V., Denis, P. et al. Efficacy of phloroglucinol for the treatment of pain of gynaecologic or obstetrical origin: a systematic review of literature of randomised controlled trials. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 76, 1–6 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-019-02745-7

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