Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38812707›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in gastroenterology2024

Efficacy and safety of thalidomide in gastrointestinal angiodysplasias: systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Kai Song, Kun He, Xiaxiao Yan, Ke Pang, Rou Tang, Chengzhen Lyu, Daiyu Yang, Yuelun Zhang, Dong Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Taiwan practical consensus for evaluation and management of small-bowel bleeding.Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA · 2026
    Guideline
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Review
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

9 authors.

Kai SongState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Kun HeState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Xiaxiao YanState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Ke PangState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Rou TangBeijing Key Laboratory of Drug Delivery Technology and Novel Formulation, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Chengzhen LyuState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Daiyu YangState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Yuelun ZhangCenter for Prevention and Early Intervention, National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Dong WuState Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9430-9874

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) angiodysplasias is a potential cause of life-threatening bleeding. Thalidomide may have a certain effect on the treatment. Objectives: We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thalidomide and used trial sequential analysis (TSA) to assess the need for further randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Design: Meta-analysis of RCTs. Data sources and methods: We systematically searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Embase, WanFang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for RCTs evaluating thalidomide in GI angiodysplasias without language restrictions. We used a random-effects model to obtain pool data and followed Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. TSA was employed to control the risk of random errors and to evaluate the validity of our conclusions. Results: Three RCTs were included involving 279 patients with the proportion of small intestinal angiodysplasias of 87.1%. Thalidomide led to improved mean change of hemoglobin level [mean difference (MD): 3.06, 95% confidence interval: 2.66-3.46] without severe adverse effects occurring. Other secondary endpoints, including effective response rate, cessation of bleeding after treatment, hospitalization rate because of bleeding, change in duration of hospital stays for bleeding, transfused red cell requirements, and overall adverse effects, also showed significantly better outcomes in the thalidomide group compared to the control group. TSA for all outcomes exceeded required information sizes, and cumulative Conclusion: Almost all of the evidence was of moderate quality, suggesting that thalidomide holds promise for treating GI angiodysplasias, with favorable safety profiles. TSA suggests that conducting large-scale real-world research is recommended over relying solely on RCTs conducted within the same population and trial design. Trial registration: This meta-analysis protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023480621).

Indexed as

efficacygastrointestinal angiodysplasiasmeta-analysissafetythalidomide

Identifiers

PMID38812707
PMCPMC11135086

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.