Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33076834›Full record

SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2020

The clinical efficacy and adverse effects of Entecavir plus Thymosin alpha-1 combination therapy versus Entecavir Monotherapy in HBV-related cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Dan Peng, Hai-Yan Xing, Chen Li, Xian-Feng Wang, Min Hou, Bin Li, Jian-Hong Chen

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 34% 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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. [Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of end-stage liver disease complicated infection (2021 version)].Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology · 2022
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Dan PengDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Hai-Yan XingDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Chen LiDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Xian-Feng WangDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Min HouDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Bin LiDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
Jian-Hong ChenDepartment of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China. ChenJHlab@163.com.
Army Medical University · CNDaping Hospital · CN

Funding

Army 1226 Project NO. BWS17J031-08Science and Technology Achievements Transformation Fund Project of Third Military Medical University NO. 2015XZH19
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies have demonstrated the benefits of thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1) in anti-virus, immunological enhancement and anti-inflammation. However, it is controversial about the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) plus Tα1 combination therapy versus ETV monotherapy in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

methodsThe systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ETV plus Tα1 combination therapy versus ETV monotherapy in HBV-related patients with cirrhosis. We performed a systematic literature search via PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Journals Database (VIP), and Chinese Biological Medicine database (CBM). Relative risk (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) with a fixed- or random- effect model were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed through a Cochrane Q-test and I

resultsSeven RCTs involving 1144 subjects were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Compared with ETV monotherapy, ETV plus Tα1 combination therapy led to a higher complete response (RR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.30). In post treatment for 24 weeks, the HBV DNA undetectable rate and HBeAg loss rate were higher in ETV plus Tα1 group than in ETV alone group (RR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.56-2.35; RR = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.62-2.60). However, after 48 and 52 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference between the combination therapy and ETV monotherapy (RR = 1.07; 95% CI, 0.96-1.18; RR = 1.17; 95% CI, 0.89-1.55). At week 52 of treatment, the HBsAg loss rate of ETV plus Tα1 group was no significance with that of ETV alone group (RR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.15-7.26). In comparison with ETV alone, the some biochemical parameters and liver fibrosis were obviously improved by ETV plus Tα1, and there was significant heterogeneity. In addition, the number of adverse events was significantly reduced by ETV plus Tα1, compared to ETV alone (RR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24-0.95).

conclusionsETV plus Tα1 might lead to a higher clinical response and a lower comprehensive adverse reaction rate in HBV-related patients with cirrhosis, compared to ETV alone. However, the whole patients included in this meta-analysis were from Chinese mainland, so that more worldwide RCTs with a larger sample size are needed to verify the current findings.

Indexed as

Hepatitis B, ChronicHepatitis B virusAntiviral AgentsChinaDrug Therapy, CombinationGuanineHumansLiver CirrhosisThymalfasinTreatment OutcomeAntiviral AgentsentecavirGuanineThymalfasinCirrhosisEntecavirHBVMeta-analysisThymosin alpha-1

Identifiers

PMID33076834
PMCPMC7574490
OpenAlexW3092820826

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.