Effects of intravenous thrombolysis with and without salvianolic acids for injection on the functional recovery of patients with acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis.

In patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the effect of salvianolic acids for injection (SAFI) as the secondary treatment after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of SAFI for patients with AIS undergoing IVT. We searched seven electronic databases and two registries from inception to July 24, 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of SAFI plus recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on the functional recovery compared to rt-PA alone in patients with AIS. Two independent authors selected RCTs, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was conducted. Eight RCTs involving 682 patients with AIS were included. Compared to patients receiving intravenous rt-PA alone, those receiving intravenous rt-PA combined with SAFI had a higher likelihood of achieving favorable functional outcomes at 3 months. In addition, the use of SAFI for 2 weeks was associated with better neurological recovery. The evidence of benefit was confirmed by trial sequential analysis (TSA). The incidence of intracranial hemorrhage did not differ between the two groups. In patients with AIS, intravenous rt-PA combined with SAFI might achieve better functional outcomes. However, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of SAFI.