Meta-analysis-based systematic review of effect of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in treatment of diabetic nephropathy on thyroid function

Zhang X, Wu M, Zhou J, Zhou R, Luo Q, Yue R, Jin S. · Annals of Palliative Medicine · 2021 June 16

Objective

This research sought to systematically evaluate the clinical effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and analyze changes in thyroid function in patients with DN.

Conclusions

TCM intervention in DN is effective in treating the clinical symptoms of patients with this disease and has ideal therapeutic effects.

Critical Appraisal

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Insights

Chinese medicine could effectively improve thyroid function and the clinical symptoms of patients with diabetic nephropathy.

A meta-analysis conducted to evaluate the thyroid function of patients with DN found that it was impaired to varying degrees. Analysis of the clinical efficacy of TCM intervention in the treatment of DN showed that TCM could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients and improve the treatment effect. However, due to the small sample size, only the curative effect after the treatment was analyzed, and the long-term efficacy of TCM intervention in the treatment of DN remains unknown. Follow-up research of a higher quality involving larger samples, and multi-center RCT trials should be carried out to supplement the deficiencies of this research, and more accurately evaluate the clinical efficacy of TCM intervention in the treatment of DN.