ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy and safety of compound flumetasone ointment for neurodermatitis and chronic eczema. MethodsWe searched the Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMbase, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang Data to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of compound flumetasone ointment for neurodermatitis and chronic eczema; the retrieval time started from founded date to December 2012. The language was confined to English and Chinese. We performed meta-analyses using the Cochrane Collaboration's RevMan 5.0 Software. ResultsA total of 22 RCTs involving 2 049 patients with neurodermatitis and chronic eczema were included and assessed. At the end of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week, the efficacy of topical compound flumetasone ointment (or combined with oral antihistamines) was obviously higher than that of other topical corticosteroid preparations[RR=1.39, 95%CI(1.30, 1.50), P<0.000 01; RR=1.25, 95%CI(1.15, 1.37), P<0.000 01; RR=1.21, 95%CI(1.11, 1.33), P<0.000 1]. Only temporary and slight adverse effects, such as erythema, desquamation, burning and tingling were observed, whereas no serious adverse effects were reported. ConclusionThe limited evidence demonstrates that topical compound flumetasone ointment (or combined with oral antihistamines) is safe and efficient. More large sampled and multiple central RCTs are required to verify these conclusions owing to the limitations of the present study.