Combination of “Qinshi Xiaobi Plaster”and western medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis of damp-heat stagnation type

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety ofQinshi Xiaobi Plasterand western medicine in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Methods One hundred and forty cases were randomized into treatment group and control group,with 70 cases in each group. Both of the groups were treated with methotrexate and leflunomide,and treatment group was added withQinshi Xiaobi Plaster,with the course of 12 weeks. The symptoms and signs,TCM syndrome,erythrocyte sedimentation rate( ESR),c-reactive protein( CRP),ACR20 and ACR50 were observed,and the safety was evaluated. Results ① The total effective rate was 86. 76% in the treatment group and 76. 47% in the control group; there was a difference in efficacy of TCM syndrome between the two groups( P 0. 05). ② Compared the indexes between before treatment and after( 4 weeks,8 weeks) treatment,there were significant differences in VAS,SJC,TJC,morning stiffness,HAQ,DAS28,ESR,CRP and TCM syndrome score in each of the group( P 0. 05,P 0. 01). After 8 weeks treatment,the SJC and TJC were improved markedly,with significant difference between treatment group and control group( P 0. 05,P 0. 01); after treatment,the improvement of morning stiffness duration,HAQ and DAS28 were better than that of the controls( P 0. 05),but the TCM syndrome score was lower than that of the controls( P 0. 05). ③ The reaching standard rate of ACR20 in treatment group was higher than that of the control group at the 8th week and after treatment( P 0. 05),and the reaching standard rate of ACR50 in treatment group was higher than that of the controls after treatment( P 0. 05). ④ The occurrence rate of adverse reaction was 4. 29% in treatment group and 7. 14% in control group,without significant difference between the two groups( P 0. 05). Conclusion Combined Qinshi Xiaobi Pasterexternally with western medicine is superior and safe in improving the state of RA patients and treating RA.