Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32055937›Full record

SynthesisAesthetic plastic surgery2020

A Meta-analysis-Based Assessment of Intense Pulsed Light for Treatment of Melasma.

Jiarong Yi, Tao Hong, Hanling Zeng, Peiwen Li, Pinglu Li, Shaohua Wang, Jia Chen, Ping Li, Jianda Zhou

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.8field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Effectiveness of Using the AOPT-LTL Technique for the Treatment of Melasma: A Clinical Study.Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2026
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  11. Observational
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jiarong Yi *Department of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Tao Hong *Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
Hanling ZengDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Peiwen LiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Pinglu LiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Shaohua WangDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Jia ChenDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Ping LiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China.
Jianda ZhouDepartment of Plastic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 138, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, China. doctorzhoujianda@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3766-6573
Central South University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA safe and effective treatment for melasma, an acquired refractory pigmented skin disease, remains a problem, although numerous clinical trials have explored the possibility of combined therapy involving intense pulsed light. To date, little is known regarding the efficacy of this treatment. The current study, therefore, sought to explore the effectiveness of intense pulsed light.

methodsWe used published studies from literature databases, based on established inclusion criteria, to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratio (RRs), and evaluated the effectiveness of combined therapy with intense pulsed light in melasma patients. We performed data analysis using the Review Manager 5.3 software at 95% confidence interval.

resultsWe obtained a total of 8 studies, involving 215 patients, from the databases and found a significant effect on efficacy following combined therapy with intense pulsed light. Specifically, the melasma area and severity index (MASI) score was significantly low (SMD = 0.61, CI [0.42, 0.80] P < 0.0001 for a fixed-effects model), while a four-point scoring scale self-assessment by patients was significantly high (RR = 1.44, CI [1.17, 1.76] P = 0.0004 for a fixed-effects model).

conclusionOur meta-analysis showed that IPL-based combination therapy for melasma can effectively reduce the MASI score and result in higher satisfaction among patients, indicating an effective method for treatment of the condition. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Indexed as

MelanosisCombined Modality TherapyHumansTreatment OutcomeIntense pulsed lightMelasmaMeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID32055937
OpenAlexW3005837804

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.