Efficacy Of Homemade Tripterygium Plaster For Pain From Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective (1) Research on a matrix that made of sodium polyacrylate (PAANa), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), zinc oxide (ZnO), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), glycerol, and water. Plaster that made by joining some traditional Chinese medicine powder into the matrix has many advantages such as soft, sticky, good formability, reusability, not contaminated clothing, non-toxic side effects, non-irritating, etc.(2) Clinical trials test the homemade Tripterygium plaster that made of the matrix and Triperygium powder has efficacy to ease the ankylosing spondylitis(AS) patients’pain.Methods We cooperated with zengchao who work in the Third Affiliated Hospital ofZhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and viewed some literature to determine the polymer matrix material is sodium polyacrylate (PAANa), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), zinc oxide (ZnO), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), glycerin and water as reconcile. After we determine the matrix of the polymer matrix material with triptolide fine powder (100mesh sieve) dubbed proportion by orthogonal test method, we made the Tripterygium cream by reconciling and stirring the materials in proportion, and then pressed the cream body into the circular plaster which has a thickness of5mm and a diameteof8cm. We divided60patients who received treatment in the hospital ankylosing spondylitis during July2011and March2012into treatment group and matched group using a randomized complete block. AS activities were assessed pre-treatment and post-treatment Ankylosing Spondylitis function index(AI), VAS pain scores, Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (FI), the overall evaluation of patients, and finally the resulting data for statistical analysis concluded.Results The miscibility of the matrix and the triptolide powder is so good that can be reconciled to make a plaster with advantage of soft, sticky, good formability, non-contaminated clothing and reusable. The plaster can be usded in clinic. The AS Activity Function Index (AI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS pain rating scale), Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (FI) and overall evaluation at before and after treatment of the patients in treatment group have been improved a lot,the results was significative(P<0.01). Meanwhile no statistically significative improvement in the control group (P>0.05).It indicates significative difference (P<0.01) between the two groups’ efficacy.Conclusion The new plaster made from polymer chemistry materia and tripterygium powder is adequate for clinic usage. It can reduce the tripterygium oral toxicity and ease the pain of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.