TABLE 3.

Results of pairwise meta-analyses for the NIHSS score.

Comparative medication	Reference medication	Number of studies	Pairwise meta-analyses
			Number of control	Number of patients	MD/OR/RR	95% CI	I2	P
Heparin	Placebo	9	260	317	1.95	[0.74, 5.11]	80	0.03
XXMT	Placebo	8	91	95	−1.86	[−3.25, −0.48]	10	0.008
Safflower yellow	Placebo	7	368	394	−3.42	[−5.38, −2.98]	82	0.004
MSCs	Placebo	5	52	57	−1.85	[−2.77, −0.93]	24	0.0001
BHD	Placebo	11	96	96	1.66	[−1.08, 4.40]	64	0.1
XST	Placebo	12	879	890	−3.17	[−4.14, −2.20]	NA	0.001
Intra-A	Placebo	5	130	204	2.24	[1.27, 3.95]	0	0.005
Edaravone plus rt-PA	Placebo	17	860	859	3.95	[2.92, 4.99]	92	0.0001
ZL	Placebo	7	115	330	−2.6	[−3.41, −1.79]	50	0.0001
Salvianolic acids	Placebo	12	435	462	−1.44	[−1.97, −0.91]	57	0.001
NBP	Placebo	12	108	108	0.73	[−0.14, 1.59]	89	0.1
HUK	Placebo	16	667	659	–1.65	[−2.12, −1.71]	84	0.00001
DZSM	Placebo	5	341	340	0.57	[0.44, 0.73]	44.2	0.11

CI, confidence interval; MD, mean difference; OR, risk ratio; I², heterogeneity; rt-PA, alteplase; MSCs, autologous bone marrow stromal cells; XXMT, Xiaoxuming decoction; XST, Xuesaitong injection; NBP, DL-3-n-butylphthalide; BHD, Buyang Huanwu decoction; Intra-A, intra-arterial Fibrinolysis; HUK, human urinary kallidinogenase.