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Chinese medicine for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: A meta analysis of randomized controlled trials

  • Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) adjunct to conventional medications for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Methods

Electronic English and Chinese databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese Medical Current Contents, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Med Database, and Traditional Chinese Medical Database System were used for key words searching in a highly sensitive search strategy. The extracted data was analyzed by the Review Manager 5.0.

Results

Twelve trials involving 869 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) I, II, III, IV scores and UPDRS V–IV total scores were used to be the primary outcomes, Parkinson Disease Question-39 (PDQ-39) and Scores of Chinese Medical Symptoms were the secondary outcomes. CM adjunct therapy had greater improvement in UPDRS I [2 trials; standardized mean difference (SMD)–0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI)–0.71 to–0.09; Z=2.49 (P=0.01)], II [5 trials; SMD–0.47, 95% CI–0.69 to–0.25; Z=4.20 (P<0.01)], III [5 trials; SMD-0.35, 95% CI–0.57 to–0.13; Z=3.16 (P=0.002)], IV scores [3 trials; SMD-0.32, 95% CI–0.60 to–0.03; Z=2.17 (P=0.03)], UPDRS I–IV total scores [7 trials; SMD-0.36, 95%CI–0.53 to–0.20; Z=4.24 (P<0.05)]. PDQ-39 and Chinese medical symptoms compared to the conventional medication only.

Conclusion

CM adjunct therapy has potential therapeutic benefits by decreasing UPDRS scores and reducing adverse effect.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Wei Wei & Jing Cai

  2. 477 Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, 441000, China

    Wei Wei

  3. School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Hai-yong Chen

  4. Xiamen Haicang Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361026, China

    Wen Fan

  5. Longyan First Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian Province, 364000, China

    Shui-fen Ye

  6. Second People’s Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350003, China

    Yi-hui Xu

Authors
  1. Wei Wei
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  2. Hai-yong Chen
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  3. Wen Fan
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  4. Shui-fen Ye
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  5. Yi-hui Xu
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  6. Jing Cai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing Cai.

Additional information

Supported Chen Keji Integrative Foundation (CKJ2015004), Foundation of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (X2014010-xueke), and the Scientific Research Fund of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China (No.WKJ-FJ-38)

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Wei, W., Chen, Hy., Fan, W. et al. Chinese medicine for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: A meta analysis of randomized controlled trials. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 55–61 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2618-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2618-7

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