Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Danshen injection for treating diabetic nephropathy(DN). Method: Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)on Danshen injection in treatment of DN were searched in PubMed

Cochrane Library

CMCC

VIP

CNKI

CBM

WANFANG data. Their methodological quality were evaluated with jadad method.Data were strictly extracted and Meta-analysis was Performed using Rev Man 5.0 software. Result: Nine RCTs of 723 patients of DN were included. Meta-analysis showed that:compared with basic therapy

Danshen injection was superior to routine treatment in increasing effective rate [OR=5.70

95% CI(2.54

12.78)

P<0.000 01] and decreasing the 24 h-UTP[DN Ⅲ

MD=-32

95% CI(-58.30

-5.70)

P<0.002]

24 h-UAER[MD=-38.17

95%CI(-54.31

-22.02)

P<0.000 1]

[BUNMD=-0.97

95% CI(-1.37

0.56)

P<0.000 1]

β2-MG[MD=-0.61

95% CI(-0.91

-0.31)

P<0.000 01]

but Danshen injection had similar effects in reducing creatinine(Cr)

hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)

total cholesterol(TC)

total glycerin(TG)

diastolic blood pressure(DBP)

Systolic blood pressure(SDP)

et al. Some side effects were observed in 3 studies

such as cough(5 patients)

bulbar conjunctiva bleeding(1 patient)

vascular edema(1 patient)

immediate skin itchingm(2 patients)

response similar to phlebitis(12 patients)

diarrhea(4 patients)

sinus tachycardia(2 patients). Conclusion: Meta-analysis currently manifests that Danshen injection has some effect in treating patients with DN. However

the evidence is insufficient to determine the effects of Danshen injection due to low-quantity and low-quality trials. Double-blinded RCTs are needed to verify effects and relatively safe of danshen injection for DN.