Key result
Xuebijing injection combined with basic treatment significantly increased the total effective rate for radiation pneumonitis compared to basic treatment alone (RR 1.45).
Why the study?
Does Xuebijing injection added to basic treatment improve clinical and biomarker outcomes in patients with radiation pneumonitis?
Meta-Analysis (n=578)
Does Xuebijing injection added to basic treatment improve clinical and biomarker outcomes in patients with radiation pneumonitis?
Relative Risk: 1.45 (95% CI 1.3–1.61)
p-value: p=<0.0001
Despite meta-analysis results showing statistical improvements in total effective rate and inflammatory biomarkers, the authors do not recommend Xuebijing injection for radiation pneumonitis due to the likely low quality of the included evidence.
Supports adjunctive Xuebijing for radiation pneumonitis; extends prior trial data via pooled meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND: Currently, the treatment of radiation pneumonitis (RP) remains a clinical challenge. Although glucocorticoids are used for RP treatment, they have associated side effects. Xuebijing injection (XBJ) has been widely used for RP treatment in China, but so far no meta-analysis has evaluated its efficacy and safety. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG database, SinoMED, and China Science and Technology J Database were searched for randomized controlled trials related to XBJ in RP treatment. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. The outcomes were synthesized and analyzed using the Cochrane Review Manager (RevMan 5.3) software, and a forest plot generated. RESULT: Eight articles met the eligibility criteria for further data extraction and meta-analysis. A total of 578 patients with RP participated in these studies, including 296 in the experimental group (XBJ+BT), and 282 in the control group (BT). The results of the meta-analysis revealed that compared to the BT group, XBJ+BT significantly increased the total effective rate (n = 578; RR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.61, p<0.0001), and IL-10 expression (n = 296; MD = 17.62, 95% CI:13.95 to 21.29, p<0.00001), decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression (n = 296; MD = -21.56, 95% CI:-27.37 to -15.76, p<0.00001), that of tumor necrosis factor alpha (n = 246; MD = -25.63, 95% CI:-30.77 to -20.50, p<0.00001), and that of C-reactive protein (n = 296; MD = -48.61, 95% CI:-56.49-40.73, p< 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we do not recommend XBJ as an adjuvant treatment for RP. Further randomized controlled trials with rigorous design, strict implementation, and standard reporting are needed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of XBJ for RP treatment. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: INPLASY registration number: INPLASY2020120037.
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Li et al. (2022) conducted a meta-analysis in Radiation pneumonitis (n=578). Xuebijing injection vs. Basic treatment was evaluated on Total effective rate (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.61, p=<0.0001). Xuebijing injection combined with basic treatment significantly increased the total effective rate for radiation pneumonitis compared to basic treatment alone (RR 1.45).
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