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Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of α-blockers versus mirabegron for medical expulsive therapy in ureteral calculi: A Systematic review and meta-analysis

Huilei Yan, Xiaoni Li, Xiaobo Zheng, Yuanshan Cui, Jing Huang, Yan Cheng

PLoS ONE, 2024

592 participants · 3 citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: The main categories of drugs employed for medical expulsive therapy in patients with ureteral calculi (UC) are alpha-blockers (α-B) and beta-adrenoceptor agonists. This meta-analysis evaluated the safety and effectiveness of α-B versus mirabegron (MIR) in treating UC. METHODS: From January 1980 to October 2024, we extensively searched the Pubmed, Web of science, Cochrane and EMBASE databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effectiveness of α-B and MIR in managing UC. Furthermore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included six publications with 592 patients, comparing α-B with MIR. The stone expulsion rate (SER) was found to be significantly greater in the α-B group than in the MIR group, as indicated by an odds ratio (OR) of 1.51 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05 to 2.16, P = 0.03) in the meta-analysis. However, no significant differences were found between the α-B group and the MIR group for stone expulsion time (SET) (mean difference [MD]: 1.20; 95% CI, -2.71 to 5.10; P = 0.55), pain episodes (PE) (MD: 0.36; 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.76; P = 0.07), or analgesic requirements (MD: 0.79; 95% CI, -0.37 to 1.94; P = 0.18). The α-B group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of adverse events compared to the MIR group for orthostatic hypotension (OR 12.16, 95% CI 3.36 to 43.95, P = 0.0001), headache (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.41 to 8.49, P = 0.007), and retrograde ejaculation (OR…

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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: 592 participants or records.

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