Objective To provide best available evidence for clinical practice and further research planning on IBS treatment, we reviewed systematically all the randomised controlled trials on calcium channel blockers for irritable bowel syndrome. The primary objective was to determine whether there was enough evidence that calcium channel blocker was effective and safe in the treatment of patients with IBS.
Method Searches were performed in Trials Register of the Cochrane Complementary Medicine Field, data from the pharmaceutical company were also retrieved. In addition we searched the electronic bibliographic databases: Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Medline, Embase, Chinese Biological Medical Database (CBM-disc). We handsearched some important Chinese journals. Two reviewers included studies, assessed the quality of studies and extracted data independently. Disagreement was resolved by discussion or the third party when needed. The following primary outcomes were assessed: ① Effective rate at the end of experiment, ② Improvmemnt in abodeminal pain and distention, ③ Adverse events.
Results 49 potentially eligible trials were identified, of which 9 trials (831 patients) were included. 8 trials were waiting for assessment. The mean percentage of patients with global improvement was 48.9% in control group and 75% in the calcium channel blockers group. In favour of calcium group with a mean OR 4.54, 95%CI (2.38, 8.66).
Conclusions Selective calcium channel blockers might be effective and safe in the treatment of patients with IBS.Because the methodological quality of all included studies was poor,further high-quality randomised controlled trials should be performed.
Citation: ZHAO Pengcheng,WANG Yiping,PAN Tao. Calcium Channel Blockers for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2004, 04(3): 167-172. doi: Copy