Clinical Observation On Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis By Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Differentiation And Treatment Combined With Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook Film Co.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome differentiation and treatment combined with tripterygium wilfordii hook film Co. on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Method This is a random, controlled trial. 40 patients were randomly divided into two groups, the TCM(traditional Chinese medicine) group and WM(western medicine) group, with 20 patients in each group. All the patients were followed up for 3 months. Then we collected the information, established the database, compared the differences of the symptoms improvement and the lab test results, and observed the adverse reaction occurrence. Result 1. Comparison of clinical symptoms and signsTCM group: After four weeks treatment, compared to the original level, the rest pain, tender joint count, swollen joint count, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, and HAQ were improved significantly (P<0. 05). There was no difference in grip strength and morning stiffness (P>0. 05). After eight weeks and twelve weeks treatment, compared to the original level, the rest pain, tender joint count, swollen joint count, grip strength, morning stiffness, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, and HAQ were improved significantly (P<0. 05). WM group: After four weeks treatment, compared to the original level, the rest pain, tender joint count, swollen joint count, grip strength, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, and HAQ were improved significantly (P<0. 05). There was no difference in morning stiffness compared to original level(P>0. 05).After eight weeks and twelve weeks treatment, the rest pain, tender joint count, swollen joint count, grip strength, morning stiffness, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, and HAQ were improvedsignificantly compared to the original level (FKO. 05). Between the two groups: After 8 weeks of treatment, morning stiffness were improved significantly in the WM group compared with the TCM group (KQ. 05). After 12 weeks treatment, grip strength and HAQ were improved significantly in TCM group compared with WM group.2. Comparison of lab resultAfter 12 weeks treatment, compared to original level, the ESR, CRP and RF were improved significantly in both groups (F(0. 05). ESR improvement of WM group was better than TCM group (K0. 05).3. Comparison of total curative effect This was no difference between the two groups.4. Observation of Adverse ReactionThere was no significant adverse reaction in TCM group. After 4 weeks treatment, nausea and disturbance of gastrointestinal tract were reported in2 patients. Prolonged menstruation was reported in 1 patient. After 8 weeks treatment, nausea and disturbance of gastrointestinal tract were reported in3 patients. Menopause was reported in 1 patient. After 12 weeks treatment, disturbance of gastrointestinal tract was reported in 1 patient. ALT elevation was reported in 2 patients. Menopause was reported in 1 patient. Conclusion The TCM group showed 70% total effective rate. The WM group showed 75% total effective rate. There was no difference between the two groups. The TCM group had much less adverse reaction.