OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Shengmai Injection (SMI) on the fatality rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSLiterature associated with randomized controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-RCT of SMI in treating patients with AMI were retrieved by computerized searching from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 3, 2007), PubMed (1980 - 2007), EMBASE (1979 -2007.4) , OVID (1979 - 2007.4), Chinese Biological Medicine Database (1979 - 2007.4), CNKI (1980 -2007.4), VIP (1989 - 2007.4) and those in Chinese Conference Treatises in cardiovascular diseases were hand searched (update to Dec 2006). Quality of them was evaluated with the method recommended in Cochrane Reviewer's Handbook 4.2.6, and statistical analysis was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration's Rev Man 4.2.9 software.

RESULTSFour RCT (conducted in China), involving 376 AMI patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. All the included RCT were graded as C. The results of meta-analyses indicated that the fatality rate in the SMI treated group was cut down [RR: 0.18, 95% CI (0.04, 0.77)], but the decreasing trend become insignificant when SMI was used in combination with vasoactive agents [RR: 0.67,95% CI (0.29, 1.51)].

CONCLUSIONSAccording to the present evidence, the fatality rate can be decreased by combined use of SMI with the conventional therapy of modern medicine. However, it is necessary to do further research on whether SMI is suitable for combined use with vasoactive agent, the opportunity and method of doing that way. As the evidence obtained is not strong enough due to the rather poor quality of current studies enclosed, further studies with high-quality, large-scale trials are required for identification.