Meta-analysis of Therapeutic Efficacy of TCM External Treatment for Alopecia Areata and Investigation on the Regularity of Prescription Selection and Medicine Use / 中国药房

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of TCM external treatment for alopecia areata,and to investigate the regularity of prescription selection and medicine use. METHODS:Retrieved from PubMed,EMBase, Cochrane Library,CBM and CNKI,RCTs about TCM external treatment(trial group)vs. routine regimen(control group)in the treatment of alopecia areata were included. The qualities of included studies were evaluated with modified Jadad scale after literature screening and data extraction. Meta-analysis was conducted by using Rev Man 5.3 statistical software. Frequency statistics and ingredient analysis were conduced among included prescriptions. RESULTS:A total of 21 RCTs were included,involving 2 510 patients. Meta-analysis showed that total response rate of trial group was significantly higher than that of control group,with statistical significance [OR=4.14,95%CI(3.04,5.65),P<0.001]. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups [OR=1.66,95%CI(3.04,5.65),P=0.48]. A total of 20 prescriptions among included 21 RCTs were included after the repeated prescriptions were deleted. Above prescriptions were analyzed statistically;there were 53 ingredients in 20 prescriptions,and the sum of use frequency for those ingredients was 138.The ingredients with high use frequency were Carthamus tinctorius,Platycladus orientalis,Salvia miltiorrhiza;main types of medicines were restoring vital energy,relieving exterior disorder,invigorating blood circulation and eliminating stasis,etc. CONCLUSIONS:TCM external treatment shows good therapeutic efficacy and safety. Medicines are mainly used for restoring vital energy,invigorating blood circulation and eliminating stasis.