Efficacy and safety of BaitouWeng decoction for ulcerative colitis: A meta-analysis of randomized and controlled trials.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate the therapeutic effect of BaitouWeng Decoction in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), evaluate its safety and effectiveness, and provide a reference for clinical medication. METHODS: The research literature on the treatment of UC with BaitouWeng Decoction was searched in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, and PubMed. The literature was screened by setting inclusion and exclusion criteria, strictly following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and following the search strategy for literature screening, data extraction, and methodological quality evaluation. According to the Cochrane System Evaluation Manual, methodological quality evaluation was conducted on the included studies using the bias risk assessment tool for randomized controlled trials. For meta-analysis, Review Manager software was used. RESULTS: A total of 24 articles were included, including 2131 patients. Meta-analysis showed that compared with conventional Western medicine, BaitouWeng Decoction can significantly improve the effective rate (odds ratio = 5.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] [3.74-6.96], P < .00001), reduce the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score (mean difference [MD] = -4.23, 95% CI [-5.17--3.30], P < .00001), Baron endoscopic score (MD = -0.68, 95% CI [-0.78--0.58], P < .00001), and intestinal lesion activity score (MD = -2.29, 95% CI [-1.15--1.03], P < .00001); improve serum factors and reduce serum tumor necrosis factor α levels (MD = -16.84, 95% CI [-19.92--13.76], P < .00001), serum interleukin-8 levels (MD = -10.41, 95% CI [-10.87--9.95], P < .00001), and increased serum interleukin-10 levels (MD = 4.96, 95% CI [2.76-7.16], P < .00001). CONCLUSION: BaitouWeng Decoction has good efficacy and safety in treating UC. BaitouWeng Decoction improved the symptoms of colitis injury and inhibited inflammatory response. However, more rigorously designed randomized controlled trials with blinding, concealment, and placebo controls should be conducted on Baitouweng decoction to generate higher quality evidence and longer-term studies on sustained benefits are needed.