Chinese herbal medicine for severe acute respiratory syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of Chinese herbal medicine for treating severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) systematically.


METHODS
Electronic and manual searches identified RCTs comparing Chinese medicine integrated to conventional medicine versus conventional medicine alone. Methodological quality of trials was assessed by generation of allocation sequence, allocation concealment, blinding, and intention-to-treat.


RESULTS
Eight RCTs (488 patients with SARS) were included. The methodological quality was generally low. The combined therapy showed significant reduction of mortality (relative risk 0.32 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.12 to 0.91]), shortened duration of fever, symptom relief, reductions in chest radiograph abnormalities, and reductions in secondary fungal infections among patients receiving glucocorticoids. There were no significant effects on quality of life or glucocorticoid dosage.


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese herbal medicine combined with conventional medicine may have beneficial effects in patients with SARS. The evidence is insufficient because of the low methodological quality of the included trials.
Liu
Jianping
J
International Health Research Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom. jpliu@liv.ac.uk
Manheimer
Eric
E
Shi
Yi
Y
Gluud
Christian
C
D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
D005938:Glucocorticoids