Meta-analysis of external treatment by Traditional Chinese Medicine for skin pruritus induced by eczema
10.12206/j.issn.2097-2024.202504013
- VernacularTitle:中药外治法治疗湿疹引起皮肤瘙痒的Meta分析
- Author:
Tingru CHEN
1
;
Qinwufeng GU
1
;
Yunyang WU
1
;
Yuanyuan MENG
1
;
Yanlong YANG
1
;
Ruimin LI
1
Author Information
1. First Affiliated Hospital, b.School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
- Publication Type:Originalarticles
- Keywords:
eczema;
pruritus;
Traditional Chinese Medicine external treatment;
Meta-analysis
- From:
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service
2025;43(8):383-389
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM）external treatment methods in alleviating skin pruritus caused by eczema through a Meta-analysis. Methods Randomized clinical trials investigating the use of TCM external treatment methods for skin pruritus caused by eczema were searched in databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）, VIP, Wanfang, Sinomed, PubMed, Embase, LILACS, and Cochrane, up to December 2024. Two reviewers independently screened and entered the statistical data, conducted bias risk assessment by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, version 5.1.0, and performed Meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4.1. Results Ultimately, 14 studies involving 1 788 patients were included. Compared to the control group, TCM external treatment methods （treatment group）showed better improvement in pruritus scores （Z=11.88, P<0.000 01）, better improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index （EASI） scores （Z=23.15, P<0.000 01）, higher overall clinical efficacy rate （Z=6.21, P<0.000 01）, better improvement in TCM symptoms （Z=5.49, P<0.000 01）, and lower clinical recurrence rate （Z=2.88, P=0.004）. Three of the included studies mentioned adverse reactions, with the treatment group showing lower adverse reactions than the control group. Conclusion The external treatment of TCM was more effective in treating skin pruritus caused by eczema compared to the control group. Given the biases and heterogeneity in the included literature, this conclusion needs to be further substantiated by more large-scale, multi-center, randomized, controlled, and double-blind studies.
