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Cashin AG, Wand BM, O'Connell NE, Lee H, Rizzo RR, Bagg MK, O'Hagan E, Maher CG, Furlan AD, van Tulder MW, McAuley JH. Pharmacological treatments for low back pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 4:CD013815. [PMID: 37014979 PMCID: PMC10072849 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013815.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pharmacological interventions are the most used treatment for low back pain (LBP). Use of evidence from systematic reviews of the effects of pharmacological interventions for LBP published in the Cochrane Library, is limited by lack of a comprehensive overview. OBJECTIVES To summarise the evidence from Cochrane Reviews of the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of systemic pharmacological interventions for adults with non-specific LBP. METHODS The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was searched from inception to 3 June 2021, to identify reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated systemic pharmacological interventions for adults with non-specific LBP. Two authors independently assessed eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the quality of the reviews and certainty of the evidence using the AMSTAR 2 and GRADE tools. The review focused on placebo comparisons and the main outcomes were pain intensity, function, and safety. MAIN RESULTS Seven Cochrane Reviews that included 103 studies (22,238 participants) were included. There is high confidence in the findings of five reviews, moderate confidence in one, and low confidence in the findings of another. The reviews reported data on six medicines or medicine classes: paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, opioids, and antidepressants. Three reviews included participants with acute or sub-acute LBP and five reviews included participants with chronic LBP. Acute LBP Paracetamol There was high-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference between paracetamol and placebo for reducing pain intensity (MD 0.49 on a 0 to 100 scale (higher scores indicate worse pain), 95% CI -1.99 to 2.97), reducing disability (MD 0.05 on a 0 to 24 scale (higher scores indicate worse disability), 95% CI -0.50 to 0.60), and increasing the risk of adverse events (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.33). NSAIDs There was moderate-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring NSAIDs compared to placebo at reducing pain intensity (MD -7.29 on a 0 to 100 scale (higher scores indicate worse pain), 95% CI -10.98 to -3.61), high-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference for reducing disability (MD -2.02 on a 0-24 scale (higher scores indicate worse disability), 95% CI -2.89 to -1.15), and very low-certainty evidence for no evidence of an increased risk of adverse events (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0. 63 to 1.18). Muscle relaxants and benzodiazepines There was moderate-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring muscle relaxants compared to placebo for a higher chance of pain relief (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.76), and higher chance of improving physical function (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.77), and increased risk of adverse events (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1. 14 to 1.98). Opioids None of the included Cochrane Reviews aimed to identify evidence for acute LBP. Antidepressants No evidence was identified by the included reviews for acute LBP. Chronic LBP Paracetamol No evidence was identified by the included reviews for chronic LBP. NSAIDs There was low-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring NSAIDs compared to placebo for reducing pain intensity (MD -6.97 on a 0 to 100 scale (higher scores indicate worse pain), 95% CI -10.74 to -3.19), reducing disability (MD -0.85 on a 0-24 scale (higher scores indicate worse disability), 95% CI -1.30 to -0.40), and no evidence of an increased risk of adverse events (RR 1.04, 95% CI -0.92 to 1.17), all at intermediate-term follow-up (> 3 months and ≤ 12 months postintervention). Muscle relaxants and benzodiazepines There was low-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring benzodiazepines compared to placebo for a higher chance of pain relief (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.93), and low-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference between muscle relaxants and placebo in the risk of adverse events (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.57). Opioids There was high-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring tapentadol compared to placebo at reducing pain intensity (MD -8.00 on a 0 to 100 scale (higher scores indicate worse pain), 95% CI -1.22 to -0.38), moderate-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring strong opioids for reducing pain intensity (SMD -0.43, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.33), low-certainty evidence for a medium between-group difference favouring tramadol for reducing pain intensity (SMD -0.55, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.44) and very low-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring buprenorphine for reducing pain intensity (SMD -0.41, 95% CI -0.57 to -0.26). There was moderate-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring strong opioids compared to placebo for reducing disability (SMD -0.26, 95% CI -0.37 to -0.15), moderate-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring tramadol for reducing disability (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.29 to -0.07), and low-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference favouring buprenorphine for reducing disability (SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.25). There was low-certainty evidence for a small between-group difference for an increased risk of adverse events for opioids (all types) compared to placebo; nausea (RD 0.10, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.14), headaches (RD 0.03, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.05), constipation (RD 0.07, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.11), and dizziness (RD 0.08, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.11). Antidepressants There was low-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference for antidepressants (all types) compared to placebo for reducing pain intensity (SMD -0.04, 95% CI -0.25 to 0.17) and reducing disability (SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.29). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We found no high- or moderate-certainty evidence that any investigated pharmacological intervention provided a large or medium effect on pain intensity for acute or chronic LBP compared to placebo. For acute LBP, we found moderate-certainty evidence that NSAIDs and muscle relaxants may provide a small effect on pain, and high-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference between paracetamol and placebo. For safety, we found very low- and high-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference with NSAIDs and paracetamol compared to placebo for the risk of adverse events, and moderate-certainty evidence that muscle relaxants may increase the risk of adverse events. For chronic LBP, we found low-certainty evidence that NSAIDs and very low- to high-certainty evidence that opioids may provide a small effect on pain. For safety, we found low-certainty evidence for no evidence of difference between NSAIDs and placebo for the risk of adverse events, and low-certainty evidence that opioids may increase the risk of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan G Cashin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Benedict M Wand
- School of Physiotherapy, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia
| | - Neil E O'Connell
- Department of Health Sciences, Centre for Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Hopin Lee
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Rn Rizzo
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew K Bagg
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- New College Village, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Edel O'Hagan
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christopher G Maher
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Maurits W van Tulder
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - James H McAuley
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Wewege MA, Bagg MK, Jones MD, Ferraro MC, Cashin AG, Rizzo RR, Leake HB, Hagstrom AD, Sharma S, McLachlan AJ, Maher CG, Day R, Wand BM, O'Connell NE, Nikolakopolou A, Schabrun S, Gustin SM, McAuley JH. Comparative effectiveness and safety of analgesic medicines for adults with acute non-specific low back pain: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ 2023; 380:e072962. [PMID: 36948512 PMCID: PMC10540836 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-072962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of analgesic medicines for acute non-specific low back pain. DESIGN Systematic review and network meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Medline, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, clinicialtrialsregister.eu, and World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform from database inception to 20 February 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR STUDY SELECTION Randomised controlled trials of analgesic medicines (eg, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, opioids, anti-convulsant drugs, skeletal muscle relaxants, or corticosteroids) compared with another analgesic medicine, placebo, or no treatment. Adults (≥18 years) who reported acute non-specific low back pain (for less than six weeks). DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Primary outcomes were low back pain intensity (0-100 scale) at end of treatment and safety (number of participants who reported any adverse event during treatment). Secondary outcomes were low back specific function, serious adverse events, and discontinuation from treatment. Two reviewers independently identified studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. A random effects network meta-analysis was done and confidence was evaluated by the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis method. RESULTS 98 randomised controlled trials (15 134 participants, 49% women) included 69 different medicines or combinations. Low or very low confidence was noted in evidence for reduced pain intensity after treatment with tolperisone (mean difference -26.1 (95% confidence intervals -34.0 to -18.2)), aceclofenac plus tizanidine (-26.1 (-38.5 to -13.6)), pregabalin (-24.7 (-34.6 to -14.7)), and 14 other medicines compared with placebo. Low or very low confidence was noted for no difference between the effects of several of these medicines. Increased adverse events had moderate to very low confidence with tramadol (risk ratio 2.6 (95% confidence interval 1.5 to 4.5)), paracetamol plus sustained release tramadol (2.4 (1.5 to 3.8)), baclofen (2.3 (1.5 to 3.4)), and paracetamol plus tramadol (2.1 (1.3 to 3.4)) compared with placebo. These medicines could increase the risk of adverse events compared with other medicines with moderate to low confidence. Moderate to low confidence was also noted for secondary outcomes and secondary analysis of medicine classes. CONCLUSIONS The comparative effectiveness and safety of analgesic medicines for acute non-specific low back pain are uncertain. Until higher quality randomised controlled trials of head-to-head comparisons are published, clinicians and patients are recommended to take a cautious approach to manage acute non-specific low back pain with analgesic medicines. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42019145257.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Wewege
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew K Bagg
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Matthew D Jones
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael C Ferraro
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Aidan G Cashin
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Rn Rizzo
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hayley B Leake
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Amanda D Hagstrom
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Saurab Sharma
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew J McLachlan
- Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Gadigal Country, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christopher G Maher
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, Gadigal Country, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard Day
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Benedict M Wand
- Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery and Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia
| | - Neil E O'Connell
- Department of Health Sciences, Centre for Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Adriani Nikolakopolou
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Centre, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Siobhan Schabrun
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Physical Therapy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- The Gray Centre for Mobility and Activity, Parkwood Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Sylvia M Gustin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- NeuroRecovery Research Hub, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - James H McAuley
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Wewege MA, Jones MD, Williams SA, Kamper SJ, McAuley JH. Rescaling pain intensity measures for meta-analyses of analgesic medicines for low back pain appears justified: an empirical examination from randomised trials. BMC Med Res Methodol 2022; 22:285. [PMID: 36333665 PMCID: PMC9636623 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-022-01763-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Meta-analyses of analgesic medicines for low back pain often rescale measures of pain intensity to use mean difference (MD) instead of standardised mean difference for pooled estimates. Although this improves clinical interpretability, it is not clear whether this method is justified. Our study evaluated the justification for this method. Methods We identified randomised clinical trials of analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain that used two scales with different ranges to measure the same construct of pain intensity. We transformed all data to a 0–100 scale, then compared between-group estimates across pairs of scales with different ranges. Results Twelve trials were included. Overall, differences in means between pain intensity measures that were rescaled to a common 0–100 scale appeared to be small and randomly distributed. For one study that measured pain intensity on a 0–100 scale and a 0–10 scale; when rescaled to 0–100, the difference in MD between the scales was 0.8 points out of 100. For three studies that measured pain intensity on a 0–10 scale and 0–3 scale; when rescaled to 0–100, the average difference in MD between the scales was 0.2 points out of 100 (range 5.5 points lower to 2.7 points higher). For two studies that measured pain intensity on a 0–100 scale and a 0–3 scale; when rescaled to 0–100, the average difference in MD between the scales was 0.7 points out of 100 (range 6.2 points lower to 12.1 points higher). Finally, for six studies that measured pain intensity on a 0–100 scale and a 0–4 scale; when rescaled to 0–100, the average difference in MD between the scales was 0.7 points (range 5.4 points lower to 8.3 points higher). Conclusion Rescaling pain intensity measures may be justified in meta-analyses of analgesic medicines for low back pain. Systematic reviewers may consider this method to improve clinical interpretability and enable more data to be included. Study registration/data availability Open Science Framework (osf.io/8rq7f). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12874-022-01763-x.
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Belavy DL, Diwan AD, Ford J, Miller CT, Hahne AJ, Mundell N, Tagliaferri S, Bowe S, Pedder H, Saueressig T, Zhao X, Chen X, Balasundaram AP, Arora NK, Owen PJ. Network meta-analysis for comparative effectiveness of treatments for chronic low back pain disorders: systematic review protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e057112. [PMID: 34845083 PMCID: PMC8634013 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic low back pain disorders (CLBDs) present a substantial societal burden; however, optimal treatment remains debated. To date, pairwise and network meta-analyses have evaluated individual treatment modes, yet a comparison of a wide range of common treatments is required to evaluate their relative effectiveness. Using network meta-analysis, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments (acupuncture, education or advice, electrophysical agents, exercise, manual therapies/manipulation, massage, the McKenzie method, pharmacotherapy, psychological therapies, surgery, epidural injections, percutaneous treatments, traction, physical therapy, multidisciplinary pain management, placebo, 'usual care' and/or no treatment) on pain intensity, disability and/or mental health in patients with CLBDs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Six electronic databases and reference lists of 285 prior systematic reviews were searched. Eligible studies will be randomised controlled/clinical trials (including cross-over and cluster designs) that examine individual treatments or treatment combinations in adult patients with CLBDs. Studies must be published in English, German or Chinese as a full-journal publication in a peer-reviewed journal. A narrative approach will be used to synthesise and report qualitative and quantitative data, and, where feasible, network meta-analyses will be performed. Reporting of the review will be informed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidance, including the network meta-analysis extension (PRISMA-NMA). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach for network meta-analysis will be implemented for assessing the quality of the findings. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review of the published data. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO registration number CRD42020182039.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Belavy
- Physiotherapy, Hochschule fur Gesundheit, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Ashish D Diwan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Service, St. George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jon Ford
- Advance Healthcare, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Low Back Research Team, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Clint T Miller
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew J Hahne
- Low Back Research Team, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Steven Bowe
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hugo Pedder
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Xiaohui Zhao
- Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaolong Chen
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Service, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Nitin Kumar Arora
- Physiotherapy, Hochschule fur Gesundheit, Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
- Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Patrick J Owen
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Ferraro MC, Bagg MK, Wewege MA, Cashin AG, Leake HB, Rizzo RRN, Jones MD, Gustin SM, Day R, Loo CK, McAuley JH. Efficacy, acceptability, and safety of antidepressants for low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2021; 10:62. [PMID: 33627178 PMCID: PMC7905649 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01599-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antidepressant medicines are used to manage symptoms of low back pain. The efficacy, acceptability, and safety of antidepressant medicines for low back pain (LBP) are not clear. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy, acceptability, and safety of antidepressant medicines for LBP. METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov , the EU Clinical Trials Register, and the WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform from inception to May 2020. We included published and trial registry reports of RCTs that allocated adult participants with LBP to receive an antidepressant medicine or a placebo medicine. Pairs of authors independently extracted data in duplicate. We extracted participant characteristics, study sample size, outcome values, and measures of variance for each outcome. We data using random-effects meta-analysis models and calculated estimates of effects and heterogeneity for each outcome. We formed judgments of confidence in the evidence in accordance with GRADE. We report our findings in accordance with the PRISMA statement. We prespecified all outcomes in a prospectively registered protocol. The primary outcomes were pain intensity and acceptability. We measured pain intensity at end-of-treatment on a 0-100 point scale and considered 10 points the minimal clinically important difference. We defined acceptability as the odds of stopping treatment for any reason. RESULTS We included 23 RCTs in this review. Data were available for pain in 17 trials and acceptability in 14 trials. Treatment with antidepressants decreased pain intensity by 4.33 points (95% CI - 6.15 to - 2.50) on a 0-100 scale, compared to placebo. Treatment with antidepressants increased the odds of stopping treatment for any reason (OR 1.27 [95% CI 1.03 to 1.56]), compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of LBP with antidepressants is associated with small reductions in pain intensity and increased odds of stopping treatment for any reason, compared to placebo. The effect on pain is not clinically important. The effect on acceptability warrants consideration. These findings provide Level I evidence to guide clinicians in their use of antidepressants to treat LBP. TRIAL REGISTRATION We prospectively registered the protocol for this systematic review on PROSPERO ( CRD42020149275 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Ferraro
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew K Bagg
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. .,New College Village, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Michael A Wewege
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aidan G Cashin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hayley B Leake
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Rodrigo R N Rizzo
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew D Jones
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sylvia M Gustin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard Day
- Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.,St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Colleen K Loo
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - James H McAuley
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Rizzo RRN, Ferraro MC, Wewege MA, Cashin AG, Leake HB, O'Hagan ET, Jones MD, Gustin SM, McAuley JH. Efficacy and Safety of Medicines Targeting Neurotrophic Factors in the Management of Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e22905. [PMID: 33480861 PMCID: PMC7864772 DOI: 10.2196/22905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Most people with LBP receive the diagnosis of nonspecific LBP or sciatica. Medications are commonly prescribed but have limited analgesic effects and are associated with adverse events. A novel treatment approach is to target neurotrophins such as nerve growth factor (NGF) to reduce pain intensity. NGF inhibitors have been tested in some randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in recent years, showing promise for the treatment of chronic LBP; however, their efficacy and safety need to be evaluated to guide regulatory actions. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medicines targeting neurotrophins in patients with LBP and sciatica. Methods In this systematic review, we will include published and unpublished records of parallel RCTs and the first phase of crossover RCTs that compare the effects of medicines targeting neurotrophins with any control group. We will search the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials Register, and WHO International Clinical Registry Platform databases from inception. Pairs of authors will independently screen the records for eligibility, and we will independently extract data in duplicate. We will conduct a quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) with the studies that report sufficient data and compare the medicines of interest versus placebo. We will use random-effects models and calculate estimates of effects and heterogeneity for each outcome. We will assess the risk of bias for each study using the Cochrane Collaboration tool, and form judgments of confidence in the evidence according to GRADE recommendations. We will use the PRISMA statement to report the findings. We plan to conduct subgroup analyses by condition, type of medication, and time point. We will also assess the impact of a potential new trial on an existing meta-analysis. Data from studies that meet inclusion criteria but cannot be included in the meta-analysis will be reported narratively. Results The protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework on May 19, 2020. As of December 2020, we have identified 1932 records. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis will assess the evidence for the efficacy and safety of NGF inhibitors for pain in patients with nonspecific LBP and sciatica. The inclusion of new studies and unpublished data may improve the precision of the effect estimates and guide regulatory actions of the medications for LBP and sciatica. Trial Registration Open Science Framework; https://osf.io/b8adn/ International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/22905
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo R N Rizzo
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael C Ferraro
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael A Wewege
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aidan G Cashin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hayley B Leake
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,IIMPACT in Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Edel T O'Hagan
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew D Jones
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sylvia M Gustin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - James H McAuley
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
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Wewege MA, Bagg MK, Jones MD, McAuley JH. Analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2020; 9:255. [PMID: 33148322 PMCID: PMC7643321 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-020-01506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited evidence for the comparative effectiveness of analgesic medicines for adults with low back pain. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aims to determine the analgesic effect, safety, acceptability, effect on function, and relative rank according to analgesic effect, safety, acceptability, and effect on function of a single course of [an] analgesic medicine(s) or combination of these medicines for people with low back pain. METHODS We will include published and unpublished randomised trials written in any language that compare an analgesic medicine to either another medicine, placebo/sham, or no intervention in adults with low back pain, grouped according to pain duration: acute (fewer than 6 weeks), sub-acute (6 to 12 weeks), and chronic (greater than 12 weeks). The co-primary outcomes are pain intensity following treatment and safety (adverse events). The secondary outcomes are function and acceptability (all-cause dropouts). We will perform a network meta-analysis to compare and rank analgesic medicines. We will form judgements of confidence in the results using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) methodology. DISCUSSION This network meta-analysis will establish which medicine, or combination of medicines, is most effective for reducing pain and safest for adults with low back pain. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42019145257.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Wewege
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew K. Bagg
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
- New College Village, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Jones
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - James H. McAuley
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
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Nascimento LR, da Silva LA, Araújo Barcellos JVM, Teixeira-Salmela LF. Ankle-foot orthoses and continuous functional electrical stimulation improve walking speed after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Physiotherapy 2020; 109:43-53. [PMID: 33120054 DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Foot-drop is a common impairment after stroke, which reduces walking ability. OBJECTIVE To examine the efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing foot-drop, i.e., ankle-foot orthoses and functional electrical stimulation, on walking speed and balance after stroke. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and PEDro databases. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA The review included only parallel, randomized trials. Participants were ambulatory adults after stroke. The experimental interventions were the use of an ankle-foot orthosis or functional electrical stimulation. DATA SYNTHESIS Outcome data related to walking speed and balance were extracted from the eligible trials and combined in random-effects meta-analyses. The quality of trials was assessed by the PEDro scores and the quality of evidence was determined according the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system. RESULTS Eleven trials involving 1135 participants were included. The mean PEDro score of the trials was 5.8 (ranging from 4 to 7). Ankle-foot orthoses (MD 0.24m/s; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.41) and functional electrical stimulation (MD 0.09m/s; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.14) significantly increased walking speed, compared with no intervention/placebo. Results regarding balance were inconclusive. Ankle-foot orthoses were not superior to functional electrical stimulation for improving walking speed (MD 0.00m/s; 95% CI -0.06 to 0.05) or balance (MD 0.27 points on the Berg Balance Scale; 95% CI -0.85 to 1.39) after stroke. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review provided moderate-quality evidence that both ankle-foot orthoses and functional electrical stimulation improve walking speed after stroke, but the effects on balance remain unclear. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD42019130988.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Rodrigues Nascimento
- Center of Health Sciences, Discipline of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil; NeuroGroup, Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Layla Alvarenga da Silva
- Center of Health Sciences, Discipline of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, ES, Brazil.
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Hesam-Shariati N, Chang WJ, McAuley JH, Booth A, Trost Z, Lin CT, Newton-John T, Gustin SM. The Analgesic Effect of Electroencephalographic Neurofeedback for People With Chronic Pain: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JMIR Res Protoc 2020; 9:e22821. [PMID: 33030439 PMCID: PMC7582146 DOI: 10.2196/22821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic pain is a global health problem, affecting around 1 in 5 individuals in the general population. The understanding of the key role of functional brain alterations in the generation of chronic pain has led researchers to focus on pain treatments that target brain activity. Electroencephalographic neurofeedback attempts to modulate the power of maladaptive electroencephalography frequency powers to decrease chronic pain. Although several studies have provided promising evidence, the effect of electroencephalographic neurofeedback on chronic pain is uncertain. Objective This systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence from randomized controlled trials to evaluate the analgesic effect of electroencephalographic neurofeedback. In addition, we will synthesize the findings of nonrandomized studies in a narrative review. Methods We will apply the search strategy in 5 electronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and CINAHL) for published studies and in clinical trial registries for completed unpublished studies. We will include studies that used electroencephalographic neurofeedback as an intervention for people with chronic pain. Risk-of-bias tools will be used to assess methodological quality of the included studies. We will include randomized controlled trials if they have compared electroencephalographic neurofeedback with any other intervention or placebo control. The data from randomized controlled trials will be aggregated to perform a meta-analysis for quantitative synthesis. The primary outcome measure is pain intensity assessed by self-report scales. Secondary outcome measures include depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality measured by self-reported questionnaires. We will investigate the studies for additional outcomes addressing adverse effects and resting-state electroencephalography analysis. Additionally, all types of nonrandomized studies will be included for a narrative synthesis. The intended and unintended effects of nonrandomized studies will be extracted and summarized in a descriptive table. Results Ethics approval is not required for a systematic review, as there will be no patient involvement. The search for this systematic review commenced in July 2020, and we expect to publish the findings in early 2021. Conclusions This systematic review will provide recommendations for researchers and health professionals, as well as people with chronic pain, about the evidence for the analgesic effect of electroencephalographic neurofeedback. Trial Registration International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) CRD42020177608; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=177608 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/22821
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Hesam-Shariati
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Wei-Ju Chang
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - James H McAuley
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew Booth
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Zina Trost
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Chin-Teng Lin
- Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Toby Newton-John
- Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sylvia M Gustin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Pourahmadi M, Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Keshtkar A, Koes BW, Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Dommerholt J, Bahramian M. Effectiveness of dry needling for improving pain and disability in adults with tension-type, cervicogenic, or migraine headaches: protocol for a systematic review. Chiropr Man Therap 2019; 27:43. [PMID: 31572570 PMCID: PMC6761714 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-019-0266-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Headache is the most common neurological symptoms worldwide, as over 90% of people have noted at least one headache during their lifetime. Tension-type headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and migraines are common types of headache which can have a significant impact on social, physical, and occupational functioning. Therapeutic management of headaches mainly includes physical therapy and pharmacological interventions. Dry needling is a relatively new therapeutic approach that uses a thin filiform needle without injectate to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. The main objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of dry needling in comparison to other interventions on pain and disability in patients with tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache, and migraine. Methods/design We will focus on clinical trials with concurrent control group(s) and comparative observational studies assessing the effect of dry needling in patients with tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache, and migraine. Electronic databases from relevant fields of research (PubMed/ Medline, Scopus, Embase®, PEDro, Web of Science, Ovid, AMED, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar) will be searched from inception to June 2019 using defined search terms. No restrictions for language of publication or geographic location will be applied. Moreover, grey literature, citation tracking, and reference lists scanning of the selected studies will be searched manually. Primary outcomes of this study are pain intensity and disability, and secondary outcomes are cervical spine ROM, frequency of headaches, health-related quality of life, and TrPs tenderness. Studies will be selected by three independent reviewers based on prespecified eligibility criteria. Three reviewers will independently extract data in each eligible study using a pre-piloted Microsoft Excel data extraction form. The assessment of risk of bias will be implemented using the Cochrane Back and Neck Review Group 13-item criteria and NOS. Direct meta-analysis will be performed using a fixed or random effects model to estimate effect size such as standardized mean difference (Morris’s dppc) and 95% confidence intervals. Statistical heterogeneity will also be evaluated using the I2 statistic and the χ2 test. All meta-analyses will be performed using Stata V.11 and V.14 softwares. The overall quality of the evidence for the primary outcomes will be assessed using GRADE. Discussion All analyses in this study will be based on the previous published papers. Therefore, ethical approval and patient consent are not required. The findings of this study will provide important information on the value of dry needling for the management of tension-type headache, cervicogenic headache, and migraine. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019124125. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12998-019-0266-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Pourahmadi
- 1Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,2Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mohseni-Bandpei
- 1Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,3University Institute of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Abbasali Keshtkar
- 4Department of Health Sciences Education Development, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bart W Koes
- 5Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,6Center for Muscle and Joint Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - César Fernández-de-Las-Peñas
- 7Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.,8Cátedra de Investigación y Docencia en Fisioterapia: Terapia Manual y Punción Seca, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jan Dommerholt
- Bethesda Physiocare, Inc., Bethesda, MD USA.,Myopain Seminars, LLC, Bethesda, MD USA.,PhysioFitness, LLC, Rockville, MD USA.,12Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Mehrdad Bahramian
- 2Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Gibbs VN, Champaneria R, Palmer A, Doree C, Estcourt LJ. Pharmacological interventions for the prevention of bleeding in people undergoing elective hip or knee surgery: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Hippokratia 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antony Palmer
- University of Oxford; Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences; Botnar Research Centre, Windmill Road Oxford Oxfordshire UK OX3 7LD
| | - Carolyn Doree
- NHS Blood and Transplant; Systematic Review Initiative; John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford UK OX3 9BQ
| | - Lise J Estcourt
- NHS Blood and Transplant; Haematology/Transfusion Medicine; Level 2, John Radcliffe Hospital Headington Oxford UK OX3 9BQ
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