Nafamostat mesilate for prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on prospective, randomized, and controlled trials

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of nafamostat mesilate in the prevention of post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP) by conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHOD: We retrieved for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about compare nafamostat mesilate with placebo in preventing PEP published before August 23, 2022, in 5 major electronic databases. The primary outcome was PEP rate, and the secondary outcome was post-ERCP hyperamylasemia (PEHA) rate. Subgroup analyses were performed to reveal the factors that may affect the preventive effect of nafamostat. Assessment of the quality of evidence was conducted based on Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) system. RESULTS: According to the search strategy and criteria of inclusion and exclusion, 8 articles with a number of 3210 patients were included. The PEP incidence of the nafamostat group was inferior compared with the placebo group (4.6% vs 8.5%, RR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.38–0.66). Subgroup analyses revealed that nafamostat had a preventive effect on patients with different risk stratification (High-risk: RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43–0.86, Low-risk: RR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.17–0.47). Different doses (20 mg: RR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.36–0.69, 50 mg: RR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27–0.74) and duration (<12 hour: RR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.37–0.81, ≥12 h: RR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.29–0.66) of administration of nafamostat are adequate for the prevention of PEP, but postoperative administration may not help (preoperative: RR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.39–0.69, postoperative: RR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.23–1.23). Nafamostat may not efficacious in preventing severe PEP (Mild: RR = 0.49, 95% CI, 0.35–0.68, Moderate: RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25–0.86, Severe: RR = 0.91, 95% CI, 0.25–3.29) or in low-quality studies (Low-quality: RR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.13–3.60, High-quality: RR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.37–0.65). CONCLUSION: Preoperative use of nafamostat can effectively prevent PEP in patients with various risk stratification. Nafamostat can prevent mild and moderate PEP, but may not prevent severe PEP and PEHA. There should be more high-quality RCTs in future to strengthen the evidence of nafamostat in preventing PEP.