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(Stroke. 2007;38:3095.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cochrane Corner

Dan Shen Agents for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Bo Wu, MD, PhD; Ming Liu, MD Shihong Zhang, MD

From the Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology (B.W, M.L, S.Z), and the Key Laboratory of Human Disease Biotherapy of the State and Ministry of Education (M.L), West China Hospital, Sichuan University.

Correspondence to Prof Ming Liu, Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan Province, P.R. China. E-mail wyplmh@hotmail.com

Graeme J. Hankey MD, FRCP Section Editor:

Key Words: Dan Shen • ischemic stroke • meta-analysis • systematic review

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

	Introduction

 
Based mainly on experimental data which indicates improvement to the cerebral microcirculation, Dan Shen, a herbal medicine, is widely used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke in China. Whether the existing clinical evidence is good enough to support its routine use in stroke is not clear.¹

	Objectives

 
Our objective was to assess the effects of Dan Shen agents in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The primary objective was to determine whether Dan Shen agents improve functional outcome without causing undue harm in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The secondary objectives were to assess the effect of Dan Shen agents on impairment and on quality of life.

	Search Strategy

 
We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched July 2006), the register of the Cochrane Complementary Field (last searched July 2006) and the Chinese Stroke Trials Register (last searched August 2006). In addition, we searched the following bibliographic databases: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2006), MEDLINE (1996 to August 2006), EMBASE (1980 to August 2006), CINAHL (1982 to August 2006), AMED (1985 to August 2006) and China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc 1979 to August 2006). We handsearched 10 Chinese journals, searched clinical trials and research databases, scanned reference lists and contacted the pharmaceutical company manufacturing Dan Shen. We also attempted to contact authors to obtain further data.

	Selection Criteria

 
Selection criteria comprised randomized controlled trials or quasi-randomized controlled clinical trials comparing Dan Shen agents with placebo or open control (no placebo) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

	Data Collection and Analysis

 
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