Meta-analysis of 99Tc-MDP combined with slow-acting antirheumatic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

SI Xia; WANG Li; MA Zhuo; FENG Wan-yu

Abstract：Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of 99Tc-MDP combined with slow-acting antirheumatic drugs (SAARDs) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM and Wanfang databases, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of 99Tc-MDP combined with SAARDs in the treatment of RA were included. The data analysis were performed by RevMan 5.1 software. Results:A total of iffteen RCTs were included, involving 1060 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that efifcacy of 99Tc-MDP combined with SAARDs group was better than that of control group in respect of improving total efifcacy [OR=6.44, 95%CI (4.19, 9.90), P<0.01], the morning stiffness time [MD=-37.74, 95%CI (-49.47,-26.00), P<0.01], tender joint count [MD=-2.63, 95%CI (-3.44,-1.81), P<0.01], swollen joint count [MD=-2.45, 95%CI (-3.49,-1.41), P<0.01], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [MD=-12.88, 95%CI (-20.76,-5.01), P<0.01], C-reactive protein [MD=-5.68, 95%CI (-9.36,-2.00), P<0.01], titer of rheumatoid factor [MD=-20.06, 95%CI (-39.83,-0.29), P=0.05]. There was no statistical difference between two groups in the incidence of adverse reactions [OR=0.91, 95%CI (0.58, 1.41), P=0.67]. Conclusion:Clinical efifcacy of 99Tc-MDP combined with SAARDs was superior to that of SAARDs alone in the treatment of RA, and no obvious adverse reaction was reported. While, further multicenter, large samples, high quality RCTs are warranted to verify the results of this article because of the drawbacks of experimental design (random, allocation concealment and double blind), small number of patients and short duration of included studies.