A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in treating hepatitis C

Li X, Jia L, Ouyang J, An Y, Luo G, Song R, Liu Q, Zhang B, Zhang R · Medicine · 2020 August 28

Objective

To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the effect of combining traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with Western medicine in treating hepatitis C, and to provide an evidence-based medical strategy.

Conclusions

The combination of TCM and pegylated interferon (Peginterferon) combined with ribavirin (PR) can improve the Comprehensive Clinical Efficacy of hepatitis C and have a better negative rate of HCV-RNA with a better benefit in the liver function. The effect of TCM + PR is better than that of PR alone in treating hepatitis C.

Critical Appraisal

Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.

This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.

Learn more about Critical Appraisal