ObjectiveTo systematically review the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on stroke patients with aphasia.
MethodsDatabases such as PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 6, 2014), CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data were searched up to June 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about rTMS for stroke patients with aphasia. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the exclusion and inclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.
ResultsA total of 9 RCTs involving 130 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, rTMS improved stoke patients' speech function after treatment (WMD=14.36, 95%CI 6.93 to 21.79, P=0.000 2). The results of descriptive analysis showed that, rTMS at Broadmann area 45 (1 Hz, 90% RMT, once 20 or 30 minutes, 2 or 3 weeks as a course with 2-day intervals) possibly had a positive long-term effect on post-stroke patients' speech function.
ConclusionrTMS may positively improve stroke patients' speech function. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more large-scale, multicenter, high quality RCTs are needed to verify the above conclusion.
