title: Efficacy and safety of nerve growth factor for the treatment of neurological diseases: a meta-analysis of 64 randomized controlled trials involving 6,297 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  China is the only country where nerve growth factor is approved for large-scale use as a clinical medicine. More than 10 years ago, in 2003, nerve growth factor injection was listed as a national drug. The goal of this article is to evaluate comprehensively the efficacy and safety of nerve growth factor for the treatment of neurological diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computer-based retrieval was performed from six databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Sino Med, CNKI, and the VIP database, searching from the clinical establishment of nerve growth factor for treatment until December 31, 2013. The key words for the searches were "nerve growth factor, randomized controlled trials" in Chinese and in English.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  any study published in English or Chinese referring to randomized controlled trials of nerve growth factor; patients with neurological diseases such as peripheral nerve injury, central nerve injury, cranial neuropathy, and nervous system infections; patients older than 7 years; similar research methods and outcomes assessing symptoms; and measurement of nerve conduction velocities. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.2.3 software.
  
  
  METHODS
  The total effective rate, the incidence of adverse effects, and the nerve conduction velocity were recorded for each study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four studies involving 6,297 patients with neurological diseases were included. The total effective rate in the group treated with nerve growth factor was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.0001, RR: 1.35, 95%CI: 1.30-1.40). The average nerve conduction velocity in the nerve growth factor group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.00001, MD: 4.59 m/s, 95%CI: 4.12-5.06). The incidence of pain or scleroma at the injection site in the nerve growth factor group was also higher than that in the control group (P < 0.00001, RR: 6.30, 95%CI: 3.53-11.27), but such adverse effects were mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve growth factor can significantly improve nerve function in patients with nervous system disease and is safe and effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Zou
keywords: adverse effects; meta-analysis; nerve conduction velocity; nerve growth factor; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neurological diseases; randomized controlled trials