Review Article

Chinese Herbal Medicine in Treating Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials

Table 2

Trials evaluating Chinese herbal medicines.

Study IDSample sizeResponse rate RR (95% CIs)Schirmer test MD (95% CIs) (mm/5 min)Salivary flow rate test MD (95% CIs) (mL/min)Adverse effects

CHM versus placebo

 Lian 2009 [33]19/194.25 [1.76, 10.29]NR
 Yu 2010 [24]30/311.03 [0.86, 1.24]−0.57 [−1.75, 0.60]NR

CHM versus conventional treatment

 Chen 2006 [52]40/201.65 [1.04, 2.62]NR
 Feng 2000 [50]34/106.76 [1.04, 44.06]151.00 [46.32, 255.68]NR
 Han 2008 [40]38/201.87 [1.13, 3.10]2.98 [1.48, 4.48]NR
 Hu 2001[55]100/501.31 [1.09, 1.59]−10.40 [−14.21, −6.59]NR
 Huang 2009 [34]32/281.23 [1.00, 1.51]NR
 Li 2010 [23]130/1101.24 [1.12, 1.37]no AE
 Liu 2009 [36]30/301.67 [1.00, 2.76]NR
 Liu 2005 [56]30/301.05 [0.78, 1.40]0.26 [−1.12, 1.64]−7011.40 [−7013.31, −7009.49]C: 12 with central obesity, 2 with increased fasting blood glucose level, 1 with insomnia, 1 with hypertension, 1 with secondary fungus infection
 Lu 2009 [32]30/281.37 [0.98, 1.92]2.12 [0.75, 3.49]2.80 [1.94, 3.66]T: 1 with diarrhea; C: 1 with blurred vision, 1 with pruritus
 Lv 2008 [39]74/501.35 [1.13, 1.61]C: 2 with diarrhea
 Mao 2007 [45]20/201.38 [0.97, 1.97]2.12 [0.75, 3.49]−0.34 [−1.01, 0.33]NR
 Qian 2003 [58]55/178.04 [2.18, 29.59]2.12 [0.75, 3.49]−6.05 [−8.42, −3.68]NR
 Wang 2000 [63]30/102.42 [1.13, 5.18]NR
 Xie 2010 [21]30/301.27 [1.01, 1.61]NR
 Xuan 2010 [19]30/301.80 [1.23, 2.62]NR
 Yin 2010 [14]20/200.94 [0.71, 1.25]0.05 [−1.15, 1.25]no AE
 Zhao 2003 [57]30/301.50 [1.03, 2.19]gastrointestinal reactions: 10% versus 40% ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 1 ); C: 3 with leucopenia, 2 with rashes
 Zhou 2006 [47]30/301.09 [0.84, 1.40]2.33 [1.79, 2.87]0.40 [−0.25, 1.05]NR
 Wang 2010 [65]30/271.66 [1.08, 2.56]NR

CHM plus conventional treatment versus conventional treatment

 Feng 2008 [38]42/361.29 [0.91, 1.82]1.25 [0.57, 1.93]−7.12 [−10.61, −3.63]T: diarrhea (11.9%), 1 withdrawal with severe diarrhea; C: 2 withdrawal with increased ALT level and hypoplasia respectively, rashes (5.6%)
 Gao 2009 [35]63/631.63 [1.24, 2.13]NR
 He 2010 [20]26/221.79 [1.03, 3.11]3.24 [1.94, 4.54]−5.36 [−8.74, −1.98]Blurred vision, abdominal discomfort, stomachache, bowel movement frequency: 11.5% versus 9.1%
 Hu 2010 [18]33/311.36 [1.02, 1.82]T: 1 with abdominal pain and diarrhea; control group: 1 with nausea
 Huang 2010 [17]32/291.31 [1.00, 1.72]1.46 [0.33, 2.59]C: 3 with abdominal discomfort, diarrhea; 1 with increased ALT level
 Li 2003 [59]40/201.30 [0.54, 3.14]135.70 [50.56, 220.84]no AE
 Li 2007 [46]36/321.24 [0.97, 1.58]2.26 [1.11, 3.41]0.21 [0.18, 0.24]T: 1 with edema; C: 1 with rashes, 2 with nausea
 Li 2010 [16]130/1101.24 [1.12, 1.37]NR
 Liu 2010 [15]67/651.09 [0.97, 1.24]C: 2 with nausea, vomiting
 Mao 2009 [31]50/501.43 [1.11, 1.84]NR
 Niu 2006 [51]20/201.31 [0.90, 1.89]thrombocytopenia: 15% versus 35% ( 𝑃 = 0 . 1 5 )
 Shen 2002 [61]30/301.69 [1.18, 2.41]4.01 [3.06, 4.96]0.25 [0.21, 0.29]T: 1 with swelling parotid gland and increased ESR; C: 1 with distal renal tubular acidosis
 Shen 2006 [49]30/303.69 [2.76, 4.62]0.23 [0.18, 0.28]no AE
 Shen 2007 [44]10/101.91 [1.04, 3.50]edema: 10% versus 40% ( 𝑃 = 0 . 1 5 ); hypertension: 10% with 30% ( 𝑃 = 0 . 2 8 )
 Su 2009 [30]30/301.86 [1.24, 2.79]0.85 [0.13, 1.57]−5.73 [−9.45, −2.01]NR
 Sun 2007 [43]74/501.35 [1.12, 1.63]35.50 [−19.76, 90.76]NR
 Wan 2009 [29]30/301.75 [1.24, 2.48]NR
 Wang 2009 [28]30/30−0.14 [−0.97, 0.69]NR
 Wang 2009 [27]25/251.47 [1.03, 2.08]NR
 Wu 2007 [41]22/201.44 [0.97, 2.14]NR
 Wu 2002 [60]30/102.00 [0.92, 4.36]2.40 [1.79, 3.01]199.00 [107.42, 290.58]NR
 Yan 2007(50)30/261.41 [1.01, 1.97]NR
 Yang 2009 [26]85/831.36 [1.14, 1.62]NR
 Zhang 2009 [25]49/461.19 [1.02, 1.39]3.26 [2.28, 4.24]435.46 [371.98, 498.94]C: 2 with hepatic dysfunction, 1 with increased fasting blood glucose level, 1 with central obesity
 Zhang 2011 [12]29/281.51 [1.06, 2.15]1.70 [0.82, 2.58]0.80 [0.07, 1.53]C: 1 with mild hepatic dysfunction
 Zheng 2010 [13]30/301.09 [0.84, 1.40]3.71 [1.88, 5.54]1.47 [1.18, 1.76]T: 1 with nausea, 3 with stomachache; C: 2 with stomachache, 2 with diarrhea, 2 with increased ALT level, 1 with leucopenia; ( 𝑃 = 0 . 0 4 )
 Zhong 2008 [37]128/1281.17 [1.07, 1.29]C: 1 with increased blood glucose level, 2 with hyperlipoidemia, 1 with hepatic and renal dysfunction
 Zhou 2006 [48]22/231.39 [1.01, 1.93]T: 2 with abdominal swelling; C: 4 with obesity, 4 with stomachache, 2 with hypertension, 4 with insomnia

CHM plus acupuncture/acupressure versus conventional treatment

 Yang 2005 [53]42/422.98 [2.01, 3.95]2.39 [1.17, 3.61]NR
 Zhou 1997 [64]34/161.96 [1.01, 3.81]NR
 Si 2005 [54]38/251.15 [0.93, 1.43]NR

Note. C: control group; T: treatment group; NR: not reported; AE: adverse effects.