Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41561887›Full record

ArticleHealth science reports2026

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Potential of Substance P/NK1 Receptor in Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Pilot Study.

Riffat Mehboob, Imran Shahid, Abdullah R Alzahrani, Shimaa Mohammad Yousof, Hafsa Adnan, Samar N Ekram, Ahmad Alwazzan, Hisham Nasief, Khalid A Khadawardi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health science reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Riffat MehboobLahore Medical Research Center Lahore Pakistan.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8965-1587
Imran ShahidDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Umm Al-Qura University Al-Abidiyah, P.O.Box 13578 Makkah Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9832-3224
Abdullah R AlzahraniDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Umm Al-Qura University Al-Abidiyah, P.O.Box 13578 Makkah Saudi Arabia.
Shimaa Mohammad YousofDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz University Rabigh Saudi Arabia.
Hafsa AdnanLahore Medical Research Center Lahore Pakistan.
Samar N EkramDepartment of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine Umm Al-Qura University Makkah Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad AlwazzanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz University Jeddah Saudi Arabia.
Hisham NasiefDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz University Jeddah Saudi Arabia.
Khalid A KhadawardiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Umm Al-Qura University Makkah Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Aims: Primary dysmenorrhea is a prevalent condition that causes significant menstrual pain and discomfort, impacting many women's daily activities. The Substance P/NK1 receptor (SP/NK1R) pathway has been linked to the pain mechanisms underlying dysmenorrhea, yet its potential as a therapeutic target remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of NK1R antagonists, specifically dexamethasone and aprepitant, in alleviating the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from March 2024 to December 2024 using a convenience sampling technique. Forty female participants were divided into three phases: Phase 1 (pre-medication), Phase 2 (NSAIDs), and Phase 3 (dexamethasone + aprepitant). Ten control females without dysmenorrhea were also recruited. The study lasted for three menstrual cycles, with assessments of SP/NK1R levels, visual analogue scores (VAS), and pictorial blood loss. Data were analyzed using Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Results: The mean age of participants was 25.1 ± 7.6 years, and BMI was 20.47 ± 3.61 kg/m². SP/NK1R levels were significantly elevated in Phase 1 compared to controls. NK1R levels decreased significantly from 15.4 ng/mL in Phase 1 to 8.42 ng/mL in Phase 3. VAS scores decreased by 4.79 units. A linear mixed-effects model revealed significant reductions in NK1R levels in Phase 2 versus Phase 1 ( Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that NK1R antagonists (dexamethasone and aprepitant) may reduce discomfort in dysmenorrhea. Further research with a larger sample size and control for intra-individual hormone levels is needed.

Indexed as

dexamethasonedysmenorrheagynecologyneurokinin‐1 receptorsubstance P

Identifiers

PMID41561887
PMCPMC12813412

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.