RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of rhubarb-based Chinese herbal formulae (RCHF), which are widely used to treat hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in China. METHODS: Nine online databases were searched from inception to November 22, 2016. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment for adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with HE. Outcomes such as mortality rate, clinical response rate, blood ammonia level, and alanine aminotransferase were evaluated between TCM group and control group. RESULTS: Thirty studies involving 2661 HE patients were analyzed. Most studies used RCHF treatment. Compared with conventional treatment as usual, lactulose, and vinegar, RCHF were associated with significant improvement in clinical response rate [risk ratio (RR) = 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25, 1.43, I 2 = 0%; RR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.14, 1.38, I 2 = 22%; and RR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.06, 1.33, I 2 = 0%, respectively] and significant reductions in levels of blood ammonia and alanine aminotransferase. Only minor RCHF-associated adverse events, such as abdominal pain (0.3%), anal tenesmus (0.3%), and diarrhea (2.3%), were reported, and there were no significant differences in these events between the treatment group and the three types of control group. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that RCHF may be an alternative treatment option for HE patients. More rigorous multicenter studies with larger samples and longer observational periods are needed to confirm these findings.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The safety of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (SR-cGVHD) has been explored in multiple studies but reported response rates (RR) vary significantly across studies. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of ECP for SR-cGVHD. A search of electronic databases for studies published between 1984 and 2012 was conducted. End points included RR: complete response (CR), overall response rates (ORR), and organ-specific RR. The initial search generated 312 studies, of which 18 met the selection criteria (N=595). A random effects model was used for pooled rates. RESULTS: Pooled CR rates and ORR were 29% (confidence interval [CI], 19-42%) and 64% (CI, 65-82%), respectively. One-year overall survival was available for 4 studies only and was 49% (CI, 29-70%). The pooled RR for skin, liver, ocular, oral, lung, gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal SR-cGVHD was 74%, 68%, 60%, 72%, 48%, 53%, and 64%, respectively. There was a significant heterogeneity among studies due to differences in ECP schedules and duration. No significant differences in responses to ECP for pediatric and adult populations were found. Sensitivity analysis could not be undertaken due to a limited number of prospective studies. CONCLUSION: ECP is an effective therapy for oral, skin, and liver SR-cGVHD, with modest activity in lung and gastrointestinal SR-cGVHD.
