Ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection for chronic cor pulmonale: a PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Correspondence: Jian Qiu (qj19691110@126.com)Ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection (GLED), a kind of Chinese herbal medicine preparation, has been considered as a promising supplementary treatment for chronic cor pulmonale (CCP). Although an analysis of the published literature has been performed, the exact effects and safety of GLED have yet to be systematically investigated. Therefore, a wide-ranging systematic search of electronic databases from which to draw conclusions was conducted. All randomized controlled trials concerning the GLED plus conventional treatments for CCP were selected in the present study. Main outcomes were treatment efficacy, blood gas and hemorrheology indexes, and adverse events. Data from 28 trials with 2457 CCP patients were analyzed. The results indicated that, compared with conventional treatments alone, the combination of conventional treatments with GLED obviously improved the markedly effective rate (RR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.31-1.58, P < 0.00001) and total effective rate (RR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.18-1.38, P < 0.00001). Moreover, the hemorrheology (PaO 2 , P < 0.00001; PaCO 2 , P < 0.00001; SaO 2 , P < 0.00001; pH value, P = 0.05) and blood gas indexes (PV, WBHSV, WBMSV, WBLSV, hematocrit and FBG, P < 0.01) of CCP patients were also significantly ameliorated after the combined therapy. The frequency of adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). In summary, evidence from the meta-analysis suggested that the combination of conventional treatments and GLED appeared to be effective and relatively safe for CCP. Therefore, GLED mediated therapy could be recommended as an adjuvant treatment for CCP.

Chinese herbal medicine injections (CHMIs) for chronic pulmonary heart disease

“…Chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD) is a common heart disease, which has become an increasingly serious public problem that threatens peoples health and quality of life (QoL) around the world. [ 1 , 2 ] Although the term “pulmonary heart disease” is popular in the medical literature, there is presently no consensual definition. [ 2 – 6 ] World Health Organization defined CPHD as “hypertrophy of the right ventricle resulting from diseases affecting the function and/or structure of the lungs, and may further lead to heart failure”.…”

“…[ 2 – 6 ] World Health Organization defined CPHD as “hypertrophy of the right ventricle resulting from diseases affecting the function and/or structure of the lungs, and may further lead to heart failure”. [ 1 , 7 ] Pulmonary hypertension caused by respiratory system disorders and/or chronic hypoxemia is the main pathological mechanisms of CPHD. [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 9 ] Currently, the conventional treatment, including antibiotics, expectorants, antiasthmatic drugs, vasodilators, diuretics and antiarrhythic drugs etc.…”

“…[ 1 , 7 ] Pulmonary hypertension caused by respiratory system disorders and/or chronic hypoxemia is the main pathological mechanisms of CPHD. [ 1 , 2 , 8 , 9 ] Currently, the conventional treatment, including antibiotics, expectorants, antiasthmatic drugs, vasodilators, diuretics and antiarrhythic drugs etc. is the main clinical therapy for CPHD.…”

“…is the main clinical therapy for CPHD. [ 1 , 2 , 10 ] However, it is universally acknowledged that long-time use of western medicine sometimes may cause drug resistance and toxic side effects, and therefore its clinical efficacy is still unsatisfactory. [ 1 – 3 ] In view of these drawbacks to conventional therapy, there is a growing interest in the development of a new regimen with better tolerance and lower toxicity for patients with CPHD.…”

“…Many scholars indicated that the combination of Chinese and Western medicine for CPHD might be the potential trend of clinical treatment development in future. [ 1 , 2 , 11 – 17 ] Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), as an essential component of complementary and alternative medicine, has gained more and more attention for CPHD. [ 1 , 2 , 11 – 17 ] Chinese herbal medicine injection (CHMIs) are a new form of CHM preparation, which are prepared by extracting and purifying the effective and active compounds from herbs via modern scientific techniques and methods.…”