Efficacy and safety of Danggui Niantong Decoction in patients with gout: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Danggui Niantong Decoction (DGNT) systematically on gout treating. Methods: This study was registered in PROSPERO, and the registration number was CRD42021271607. By the end of December, 2022, literature research was conducted among eight electronic databases. Main results of this study were blood uric acid (BUA) and Creactive protein (CRP). Secondary outcomes were erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum creatinine (Scr), urinary protein quantified at 24 h (Upro), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Study screening, data collection, as well as quality assessment were performed by two reviewers independently, and analysis was completed using Stata (SE15.0) and Review Manager (5.4). Results: A total number of 13 studies were included in our meta-analysis (n = 1,094 participants). Results showed DGNT combined with conventional western medicine (CWM) was more effective than WM alone in BUA (weighted mean differences (WMD) = −3.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) [−50.36, −32.59], p = 0.000), CRP (WMD = −41.48, 95% CI [−4.32, −2.66], p = 0.017), ESR (WMD = −6.23, 95% CI [−9.28, −3.17], p = 0.019), Scr (WMD = −18.64, 95% CI [−23.09, −14.19], p = 0.001), Upro (WMD = −0.72, 95% CI [−0.91, −0.53], p = 0.000), and IL-8 (WMD = −4.77, 95% CI [−11.48, 1.94], p = 0.000). None of the adverse effects noted were severe, and no life-threatening event was reported. Conclusion: This study shows that DGNT combined with CWM seems to have an effective clinical therapeutic potential. In addition, it also provides a scientific basis for better clinical application of DGNT in the future. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021271607; Identifier: PROSPERO, CRD42021271607.