Clinical effectiveness of matrine sitz bath in treating perianal infection after chemotherapy for acute leukemia

Abstract

Background: Perianal infection is a common complication in patients with acute leukemia receiving chemotherapy. It usually manifests as a perianal mass, with redness/swelling, heat, and pain, and can affect physical and mental health in severe cases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of matrine sitz bath (MSB) in treating perianal infection after chemotherapy for acute leukemia. Methods: A total of 216 acute leukemia patients with perianal infection that developed during chemotherapy were enrolled in this study and equally randomized into an MSB group and control group. The control group was treated with the conventional potassium permanganate sitz bath. After 14 days of treatment, the clinical efficacy and symptom/sign scores were compared between these 2 groups. The serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-10 (IL-10), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The clinical efficacy of MSB group was significantly superior to that of the control group (P<0.05). The scores of anal pain, systemic symptoms, mass size, and mass texture were significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and they were significantly lower in the MSB group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of hs-CRP, TNF-a, ESR, and PGE2 in these 2 groups significantly dropped (P<0.05), and they were significantly lower in the MSB group than in the control group (P<0.05); IL-10 level significantly rose in both groups (P<0.05), and it was significantly higher in the MSB group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: MSB is effective in treating perianal infection after chemotherapy for acute leukemia as it can effectively improve symptoms and signs and alleviate inflammatory reactions.