The efficacy of oral Chinese patent medicine in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction was systematically evaluated by network Meta-analysis. The literature search was conducted in three English databases(Medline, EMbase and Cochrane Library) and four Chinese databases(CNKI, VIP, WanFang and SinoMed) from inception to June 2018, and the randomized controlled trials of acute cerebral infarction were screened out according to the pre-set criteria. Two reviewers independently screened out the literature by using pre-specified eligibility criteria, and assessed the quality of included studies according to the risk of bias tool of Cochrane Handbook 5.1.0. Data analysis was conducted by using Stata 13.0 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 software. Finally, 52 RCT were included, involving 11 kinds of oral Chinese patent medicines. The results of the network Meta-analysis showed that in terms of the total effective rate, the order of efficacy was as follows: Naomaitai Capsules>Xiaoshuan Changrong Capsules>Angong Niuhuang Pills>Yangxue Qingnao Granules>Compound Danshen Dripping Pills>Naoxintong Capsules>Tongxinluo Capsules>Naoxueshu Oral Liquid>Zhuyu Tongmai Capsules>Yinxingye Tablets>Compound Danshen Tablets; in terms of neurological deficit scores, the order of efficacy was: Tongxinluo Capsules>Angong Niuhuang Pills>Compound Danshen Dripping Pills>Xiaoshuan Changrong Capsules>Yangxue Qingnao Granules>Zhuyu Tongmai Capsules>Naoxintong Capsules>Naoxueshu Oral Liquid; in terms of Barthel index score, the order of efficacy was: Xiaoshuan Changrong Capsules>Naomaitai Capsules>Naoxueshu Oral Liquid>Angong Niuhuang Pills>Tongxinluo Capsules>Zhuyu Tongmai Capsules. Although different oral Chinese patent medicines can improve these outcomes, the difference in efficacy ranking was relatively large. Because of the small number and low quality of research literature, the conclusion still needs to be proved by multi-center, large-sample, and double-blind randomized trials.
Keywords: Chinese patent medicine; acute cerebral infarction; network Meta-analysis.