Objective: To compare the effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound and western medicine in treating diabetic retinopathy by Meta-analysis. Method: According to pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in high blood sugar

blood vessel endothelial cell dysfunction

growth factors

changes in blood rheology and inflammation

clinical research literatures for treatment of diabetic retinopathy were collected and screened according to the literature selection criteria

in order to compare the effects of TCM and western medicine on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)

endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO)

vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)

whole blood viscosity (high shear)

whole blood viscosity (low shear)

plasma viscosity

fundus change

vision and TCM syndrome

and the meta-analysis was made. Result: This study collected 3 526 literatures

including 62 literatures up to standards. Among them

27 literatures recorded observation of HbA1c

reflecting nearly eight weeks of glucose control; 8 literatures recorded observation of ET

and 4 literatures recorded observation of NO

reflecting the vascular endothelial cell function disorder; 8 literatures recorded observation of VEGF

proving that it is the growth factor playing a major role in the retinal micro-vascular proliferation; 8 literatures recorded observation of the whole blood viscosity (high shear)

8 literatures recorded observation of the whole blood viscosity (low shear)

9 literatures recorded observation of the plasma viscosity

6 literatures recorded observation of fibrinogen

so as to reflect the change in blood rheology; 3 literatures recorded observation of hsCRP

4 literatures recorded observation of TNF-α

discussing the effects on inflammation; 39 literatures recorded observation of the clinical efficacy

23 literatures recorded observation of the efficacy in changing fundus

20 literatures recorded observation of the efficacy in vision

and 29 literatures recorded observation of the effect of TCM syndrome. Conclusion: Compared with the pure western medicine treatment group

TCM compound was equal in the effect on NO in patients with diabetic retinopathy

but superior in glycosylated hemoglobin

ET

TNF-α

serum hsCRP

VEGF

whole blood viscosity (high shear)

whole blood viscosity (low shear)

plasma viscosity

fibrinogen

clinical efficacy

fundus change and vision. This suggests that TCM shows a more significant efficacy than pure western medicine. However

because of the limited quantity and quality of literatures

the effect of TCM compound in patients with DR shall be further confirmed by the randomized

double-blind

placebo-controlled with more high-quality double-blind randomized controlled trials.