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Is fire needle superior to Western medication for herpes zoster? A systematic review and meta-analysis

火针对比西药治疗带状疱疹的系统评价和Meta分析

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Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of fire needle versus Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing fire needle with Western medicine in the treatment of herpes zoster were identified using 8 databases. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.

Results: Eight trials involving 569 patients were included in this meta-analysis, and the results showed that fire needle was superior to Western medicine comparing the effective rate [risk ratio (RR)=1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06 to 1.20; P=0.0002], the visual analog scale (VAS) score [mean difference (MD)=−7.95, 95% CI: −10.71 to −5.20; P<0.00001], time of pain disappearance (MD=−7.61, 95%CI: −9.38 to −5.84; P<0.00001), time of blister-stop (MD=−1.34, 95%CI: −1.51 to −1.18; P<0.00001), time of crusted scab (MD=−2.92, 95%CI: −3.62 to −2.23; P<0.00001), and time of scab off (MD=−4.64, 95%CI: −5.83 to −3.46; P<0.00001). In addition, a significantly lower incidence of postherpetic neuralgia was found in the fire needle group in 30 d (RR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.11 to 0.51; P=0.0002) and 60 d (RR=0.33, 95%CI: 0.12 to 0.91; P=0.03) after treatment.

Conclusion: Fire needle has a favorable effect in increasing the effective rate, relieving pain, recovering skin lesions and decreasing incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in the treatment of herpes zoster. However, considering the limitations in this study, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

摘要

目的:比较火针与西药治疗带状疱疹的临床疗效。方法:检索8 个数据库中关于火针对比西药治疗带状 疱疹的随机对照试验, 并采用RevMan 5.3 进行meta 分析。结果:纳入8 项随机对照试验共569 人。结果表明, 火 针治疗带状疱疹的有效率显著优于西药治疗组[RR=1.13, 95%CI(1.06, 1.20); P=0.0002]。与西药组比较, 火针治疗在 降低视觉模拟量表(VAS)评分[MD=−7.95, 95%CI(−10.71, −5.20); P<0.00001], 缩短疼痛时间[MD=−7.61, 95%CI(−9.38, −5.84); P<0.00001]以及止疱[MD=−1.34, 95%CI(−1.51, −1.18); P<0.00001], 结痂[MD=−2.92, 95%CI(−3.62, −2.23); P<0.00001]和脱痂时间[MD=−4.64, 95%CI(−5.83, −3.46); P<0.00001]方面具有显著优势。另外, 火针能够显著降低随 访第30 天[RR=0.23, 95%CI(0.11, 0.51); P=0.0002]和第60 天[RR=0.33, 95%CI(0.12, 0.91); P=0.03]带状疱疹后遗神经痛 的发病率。结论:与西药相比, 火针疗法在带状疱疹的有效率、疼痛、皮损以及后遗神经痛方面疗效更加显著。 然而, 由于本研究存在的局限性, 这一结论应谨慎对待。

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China

    Dong Li  (李冬), Zhuo-mao Mo  (莫灼锚), Ren-wen Zhang  (张人文), Min-min Chang  (常敏敏), Bin-bin Yang  (杨彬彬) & Shu-jie Tang  (唐树杰)

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Correspondence to Shu-jie Tang  (唐树杰).

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Li, D., Mo, Zm., Zhang, Rw. et al. Is fire needle superior to Western medication for herpes zoster? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 17, 312–320 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-019-1130-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-019-1130-y

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