Abstract
Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe classic Chinese herbal medicine formula Xiao-qing-long-tang (XQLT) is commonly recommended to manage allergic rhinitis (AR), but the treatment efficacy and safety of XQLT are uncertain. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of XQLT in treating AR. Materials and methodsNine databases were searched from their inception to April 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating XQLT for AR were included. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. A meta-analysis and a subgroup meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of XQLT. ResultsTwenty-four RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. XQLT was compared to both placebo and Western medicine (WM), and XQLT combined with WM was compared with WM alone. Meta-analyses were conducted for total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), four individual nasal symptom scores, quality of life (QoL), effective rate, and recurrence rate. The TNSS decreased after XQLT treatment and combination treatment (mean difference (MD): −0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) [−1.20, −0.38], standardized mean difference (SMD): −1.42; 95% CI [−1.59, −1.24], and SMD: −1.84; 95% CI [−2.08, −1.60]). The two individual nasal symptom scores decreased after XQLT treatment and combination treatment; these nasal symptoms comprised rhinorrhea (SMD: −0.30; 95% CI [−0.58, −0.02] and SMD: −0.48; 95% CI [−0.70, −0.26]), and nasal obstruction (SMD: −0.54; 95% CI [−0.78, −0.30] and SMD: −0.54; 95% CI [−0.76, −0.32). XQLT and XQLT combined with WM achieved a better effective rate than WM (risk ratio (RR): 1.18; 95% CI [1.11, 1.25] and RR: 1.16; 95% CI [1.10, 1.23]) and a lower recurrence rate than WM (RR: 0.24; 95% CI [0.13, 0.43] and RR: 0.47; 95% CI [0.31, 0.72]). XQLT was well tolerated in patients being treated for AR. ConclusionOur results indicated that oral XQLT may alleviate the TNSS, rhinorrhea scores, and nasal obstruction scores of AR and is safe to use in clinical practice. However, more RCTs that follow rigorous methodologies and evaluate well-accepted outcome measures are required to evaluate the effectiveness of XQLT.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.