Effect of Dahuang zhechong formula on liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A meta-analysis

- Conflicting findings have reported Dahuang zhechong (DHZC) formula on liver fibrosis.
- DHZC formula reduces serum biomarkers of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B.
- More well-designed trials accessing DHZC on liver biopsy index are needed.

SummaryBackgroundDahuang zhechong formula has been used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, but its efficacy on the liver fibrosis is conflicting. We performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively investigate the efficacy of Dahuang zhechong formula as an adjunctive therapy treatment for liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, EMBASE, VIP database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database through January 2014. Only randomized controlled trials investigating Dahuang zhechong formula as an adjunctive therapy treatment for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B were selected.ResultsSeventeen trials involving 1212 patients were included. Dahuang zhechong formula reduced serum hyaluronic acid level (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.72 to −0.83), type-III procollagen level (SMD = −1.71; 95%CI: −2.34 to −1.09), type-IV collagen level (SMD = −1.06; 95%CI: −1.41 to −0.70), and laminin level (SMD = −0.75; 95%CI: −0.89 to −0.62). In particular, subgroup analyses showed that patients who did not receive anti-viral agents have achieved a greater reduction in serum fibrosis markers.ConclusionsDahuang zhechong formula appears to reduce serum biomarkers of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, robust conclusions cannot be reached due to the methodological flaws of the included trials.