Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides combined with prednisone in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM: The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy and safety of tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides combined with prednisone in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy. BACKGROUND: Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides, a Chinese patent medicine, is widely in-depth research in China, and is proved to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect. It has been extensively used in China for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). However, there has no relevant systematic review studied on its effects and safety been reported. We plan to perform a systematically reviewing to assess the efficacy and safety of tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides combined with hormones in the treatment of IMN. METHODS: Seven electronic databases will be searched to identify eligible trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides combined with prednisone versus standard therapy are included. Methodological quality is assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool. A random- or fixed-effect model is used to analyze outcomes that are expressed as risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MD), and the I(2) statistic is used to assess heterogeneity. RESULTS: A high-quality synthesis of current evidence of tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides combined with prednisone in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy will be provided in this study. CONCLUSION: This systematic review will provide evidence of whether tripterygium wilfordii multiglycosides is an effective intervention for idiopathic membranous nephropathy. PROSPERO registration number: No.CRD42018118179.