SynthesisBMC gastroenterology2025
Efficacy of prophylactic dexamethasone in reducing post-embolization syndrome following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC gastroenterology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- High-Volume Dilution of Drug-Eluting Beads Reduces Severe Pain After DEB-TACE: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.Journal of hepatocellular carcinoma · 2026Article
- Balloon-Occluded Transarterial Chemoembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Technical Rationale, Current Evidence, and Future Directions.Journal of hepatocellular carcinoma · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectivesTranscatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a fundamental treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma despite its tendency to induce postembolization syndrome (PES), which can negatively impact the quality of life and treatment outcomes of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic dexamethasone in reducing PES following TACE.
methodsA thorough search across major databases was conducted to identify studies investigating the prophylactic use of dexamethasone in preventing and reducing PES. Efficacy was evaluated via a meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects model to determine the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), focusing on PES symptoms, including abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
resultsAmong 406 meticulously reviewed studies, 5, encompassing a patient cohort of 400 individuals, were included in the final analysis. The results revealed a significant reduction in the overall incidence of abdominal pain (RR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.51-0.75; P < 0.001), fever (RR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.35-0.60; P < 0.001), and nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.43-0.76; P < 0.001) using dexamethasone prophylactically.
conclusionThis meta-analysis suggested that the prophylactic administration of dexamethasone effectively prevents and reduces PES, significantly reducing the incidence of key symptoms, including abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.