Clinical study of triptergium hypoglaucum combined with methotrexate in elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy the safety of tripterygium hypoglaucum combined with low dose methotrexate in the treatment of elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis(EORA). Methods:72 patients with EORA were randomly divided into two group. The treatment group(n=40) was treated with tripterygium hypoglaucum 0.54 g per os,3 times a day and methotrexate 7.5 mg per os,once a week.The course of treatment in both groups was 24 weeks. Results:After treatment,the total effective rate at 6,12 and 24 weeks was 32.5%,62.5% and 82.5% respectively in the treatment group,and 34.38%,65.63% and 78.123% respectively in the control group.The efficacy of two groups was near,without significant difference(P0.05),but the treatment group was superior to the control group in some indices including ADL score,stength,index of joint tenderness and swelling(P0.05). Conclusion:Tripterygium hypoglaucum combined with low dose methotrexate is effective and safe in treating the elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis.