• Linzhi Li, Rensong Yue, Lihong Zeng, Shengnan Wang, Wuhui Zhuo, and Yingying Sun.
• Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Nov 13; 99 (46): e23011e23011.

BackgroundSubacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a transient and self-limiting inflammatory thyroid disease. There is no clear evidence for specific etiology, but it is generally thought to occur after viral infection. Characteristics of SAT include severe pain of the anterior neck, enlarged firm thyroid, disordered thyroid function, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), typical ultrasound findings (hypoechoic areas) and low thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine or technetium-99 m because of the destructive etiology of the hyperthyroidism. Evidences showed Xiaochaihu decoction (XCHD) has a significant effect on improving the symptoms of SAT patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of XCHD for patients with SAT.Methods And AnalysisThe literature that has been identified via searching 6 Chinese electronic databases and eight English electronic databases from inception to September 21, 2020 will be included in the study. Research selection, data extraction as well as research quality assessment will be completed by 2 experienced researchers independently. The primary outcome is remission rate. Data analysis will be conducted by the RevMan 5 software, and GRADE will help to assess the level of evidence. The heterogeneity of data will be investigated by a heterogeneity x test, as well as the Higgins I test. A subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis will be conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity.ResultsThe results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.ConclusionThis study will draw a conclusion about whether XCHD is safe and effective in treating SAT on the basis of evidence-based medicine. This conclusion will provide areliable scientific evidence for the alternative treatment for the management of SAT. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER:: https://osf.io/8hbue.

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