Thymosin alpha 1 alleviates inflammation and prevents infection in patients with severe acute pancreatitis through immune regulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy in meta-analysis.”

Patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)

“Randomized controlled studies comparing the efficacy of Tα1 as intervention measure with non-Tα1 in improving immune regulation for patients with SAP were included.”

706 patients across 5 trials

“Five randomized controlled trials comprising 706 patients with SAP were included.”

Literature search up to February 1, 2025; individual trial durations ranged from 7 to 14 days

“We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to February 1, 2025.”

Tα1 increased CD4+ cell percentages and CD4+/CD8+ ratios

“The results indicated that Tα1 could increase the percentages of CD4+ cells (MD=4.53, 95%CI [3.02, 6.04], P<0.00001) and improve the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (MD=0.42, 95%CI [0.26, 0.58], P<0.00001) in SAP patients.”

Tα1 reduced the overall incidence of extrapancreatic infections

“In terms of infection, the immunomodulatory therapy of Tα1 obviously reduced the overall incidence of extrapancreatic infections in SAP patients (RR=0.56, 95%CI [0.40, 0.78], P=0.0005)”