Value of “Zhengqing Fengtongning” on Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective To observe the effect of “Zhengqing Fengtongning” (a traditional Chinese medicine) on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. MethodsA total of 73 cases with rheumatoid arthritis (aging from 19 to 67 years) according with the diagnostic standard of rheumatoid arthritis were divided into two groups at random. The patients in the control group were given with naproxen, prednisone, methotrexate and sulfasalazine, while those in the treatment group were given with “Zhengqing Fengtongning”tablets (120mg, twice per day) besides the medicine used in the control group. The course of treatment lasted half a year. Blood sedimentation, liver and kidney function, and blood routine were examined at the same time. ResultsHalf a year after the beginning of treatment, improvements in joint ache, swelling, tenderness, joint movable degree and morning rigidity were reached in both the two groups, except two patients from the treatment group and three ones from the control group without follow-up. The total effective rate was significantly higher in the treatment group (97.2%) than in the control group (P0.05), and the side-effects of the treatment group were slight. ConclusionThe data indicates that “Zhengqing Fengtongning”with Western medicine has significant treatment effects and slight side-effects on rheumatoid arthritis.