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Efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii hook F for chronic urticaria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Liu Liu, Huaibo Zhao, Xiaoying Sun, Qi Zheng, Ying Luo, Yi Ru, Ying Zhang, Xi Chen et al.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018

2,565 participants · 33 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The first-line agents comprising antihistamines for chronic urticaria, are not completely satisfactory. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), a Chinese herb, has been developed into several Tripterygium agents and have definite effects on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In chronic urticaria, however, their values of practical application remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of TwHF in patients with chronic urticaria. METHODS: Several databases were systematically searched including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China Network Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database, Wan Fang Database, and Chinese Biomedicine. Randomized controlled trials comparing antihistamines with TwHF or Tripterygium agents in combination with antihistamines were included. Revman5.3 was utilized to calculate risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). This study was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018091595. RESULTS: Twenty-one trials with 2565 participants were included in this analysis. Meta-analysis showed that, when antihistamines were combined with TwHF and Tripterygium agents, the curative effect in cases of chronic urticaria was superior to that of antihistamines alone (RR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.33-1.46). The incidence rates of gastrointestinal disorder (RR: 2.91; 95% CI: 1.70-4.99) and menstrual disorder (RR: 6.00; 95% CI: 1.79-20.13) in drug combination groups were…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,565 participants or records.

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