Objective To compare the combination of Xiao Chai Hu Tang and interferon versus the simple interferon for the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in terms of clinical therapeutic effect and safety. Methods Such databases as PubMed, CBM disc, CNKI, VIP, Japana Centra Revuo Medicina were searched to include the randomized control trials (RCTs) of treating chronic hepatitis B by using Xiao Chai Hu Tang plus interferon as the treatment group and the interferon as the control group. The quality of the inclusive methodology was evaluated by two reviewers independently. RevMan5.0.24 software was employed for meta-analyses. Results Seven RCTs involving 668 patients were included and all of them were classified as Grade C methodologically. The results of meta-analyses demonstrated: compared with the simple interferon treatment, adding Xiao Chai Hu Tang to interferon was able to significantly increase the HBV-DNA negative conversion ratio (RR=1.44, 95%CI 1.18 to 1.76, P=0.000 4) and the HBeAg negative conversion ratio (RR=1.54, 95%CI 1.21 to 1.94, P=0.000 4); when the intervention duration was more than 12 weeks, the ALT normalization rate was improved significantly (24 weeks: RR=1.39, 95%CI 1.17 to 1.66, P=0.000 2; 12 weeks: RR=1.79, 95%CI 1.23 to 2.61, P=0.002) and the incidence of flu-like symptoms induced by interferon was significantly reduced (liver-protection treatment: RR=0.54, 95%CI 0.40 to 0.73, Plt;0.000 1; Non-liver-protection treatment: RR=0.75, 95%CI 0.59 to 0.95, P=0.02). The funnel plot was asymmetric, indicating publication bias. Conclusion Although Xiao Chai Hu Tang maybe has certain potential supplementary benefits to interferon for the management of CHB. The results of the above meta-analyses should be interpreted prudently because there exit disparities in domestic and international trails with the shortage of double blind or multi-centered clinical trials with high quality. The current evidence provides no way to compare the combination of Xiao Chai Hu Tang plus interferon with the simple interferon for the treatment of CHB and no accurate conclusion in terms of clinical therapeutic effects and safety.
