PMID-26517783 – Ulinastatin and/or Thymosin Alpha-1 for Severe Sepsis: Meta-Analysis
Feng Z et al. "Ulinastatin and/or thymosin α1 for severe sepsis: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2016;80(2):335-340. doi:10.1097/TA.0000000000000909
Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| PMID | 26517783 |
| DOI | 10.1097/TA.0000000000000909 |
| Year | 2016 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery |
| Study Type | Systematic Review / Meta-analysis |
| Evidence Level | I |
| Sample | 10 articles, 12 studies of severe sepsis patients |
| Peptide(s) Studied | Thymosin Alpha-1 |
Key Findings
- Thymosin α1 alone significantly reduced 28-day mortality in severe sepsis
- Combination (ulinastatin + Tα1) reduced both 28-day and 90-day mortality
- Tα1 monotherapy did NOT significantly reduce 90-day mortality
- Combined immunomodulatory therapy demonstrated superior outcomes over monotherapy
Study Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 articles (12 studies) examining ulinastatin and/or thymosin α1 for severe sepsis. Searched multiple databases through September 2015.
Limitations
- Predominantly Chinese studies; generalizability uncertain
- Moderate heterogeneity across studies
- Note: The subsequent TESTS Phase 3 RCT (PMID-39814420, 2025, n=1,089) found NO mortality benefit for Tα1 in sepsis, contradicting this meta-analysis
Clinical Relevance
Historical context for Tα1 in sepsis immunomodulation. The positive signal in this meta-analysis drove the conduct of the definitive TESTS Phase 3 trial, which was negative. This illustrates the importance of large RCTs to confirm meta-analytic signals. Must be interpreted alongside PMID-39814420.
Related
#research #meta-analysis #evidence-level-I