ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) versus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in kidney transplant recipients. MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMbase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library (Issue 9, 2013), CBM, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data from their inception to November 2013, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of EC-MPS versus MMF in kidney transplant recipients. References of included studies were also retrieved. Two reviewers independently screened studies according to the exclusion and inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsA total of 8 RCTs involving 2 400 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis indicated that there were no significant differences between the two groups at the end of 4-week, 6-month, 12-month and 48-month follow-up in the acute rejection rate (4-weeks:RR=0.33, 95%CI 0.01 to 8.05; 6 months:RR=0.94, 95%CI 0.73 to 1.22; 12 months:RR=0.88, 95%CI 0.63 to 1.24; 4 years:RR=0.93, 95%CI 0.47 to 1.84). There were no significant differences between the two groups at the end of 6-month and 12-month follow-up in the chronic rejection rate (6 month:RR=0.66, 95%CI 0.27 to 1.58; 12 month:RR=0.57, 95%CI 0.29 to 1.15). There were no significant differences between the two groups at the end of 6-month, 12-month and 48-month follow-up in the graft loss or death rate (6-month:RR=0.79, 95%CI 0.41 to 1.50; 12-month:RR=0.76, 95%CI 0.40 to 1.43; 48-month:RR=1.38, 95%CI 0.59 to 3.23). As to the side effect, EC-MPS could significantly reduce the risk of pneumonia compared with MMF (RR=0.32, 95%CI 0.13 to 0.79). ConclusionBased on current evidences, EC-MPS is comparable with MMF for renal transplant patients in short-term effectiveness, and the incidence of pneumonia in the EC-MPS group is lower than the MMF group. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the studies, the conclusions should be validated by more high quality studies.