title: The effects of wenxin keli on p-wave dispersion and maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: Objective. To evaluate the beneficial and adverse effects of Wenxin Keli (WXKL), alone or combined with Western medicine, on P-wave dispersion (Pd) and maintenance of sinus rhythm for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Methods. Seven major electronic databases were searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of WXKL, alone or combined with Western medicine, for PAF, with Pd or maintenance rate of sinus rhythm as the main outcome measure. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using criteria from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Interventions, version 5.1.0, and analysed using RevMan 5.1.0 software. Results. Fourteen RCTs of WXKL were included. The methodological quality of the trials was generally evaluated as low. The results of meta-analysis showed that WXKL, alone or combined with Western medicine, was more effective in Pd and the maintenance of sinus rhythm, compared with no medicine or Western medicine alone, in patients with PAF or PAF complicated by other diseases. Seven of the trials reported adverse events, indicating that the safety of WXKL is still uncertain. Conclusions. WXKL, alone or combined with Western medicine, appears to be more effective in improving Pd as well as maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with PAF and its complications.
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China ; Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Beijing An Zhen Hospital of the Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Shaoping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Beijing An Zhen Hospital of the Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Beijing An Zhen Hospital of the Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqiu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Zhenpeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China.
authors.forename: Yanwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Hongcai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shang