Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The heat-clearing and detoxicating (Bizhongxiao decoction, BZXD) exhibits good curative effect in treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous experiments have identified the effectiveness of BZXD in treating rheumatoid arthritis at molecular and gene levels.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of BZXD on joint X-ray stages and functions in RA patients with damp-heat syndrome type.
METHODS: Between May 2000 and May 2006, active RA patients received treatments at the Department of Combined Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, were randomly divided into 2 groups, namely, BZXD treated group and control group, which received combination of methotrexate and sufasalazine therapy, respectively. Both groups were treated for 3 years, and the staging of X-ray and the score of joint function before and after treatment in different times were compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with prior to treatment, the percentage of grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ on joint X-ray of the BZXD group were obviously decreased at 3 months after treatment. The percentage of grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ were gradually reduced at 1, 2 and 3 years after treatment, and the joint function scores also improved significantly (P < 0.05). In the control group, there were no notable changes in the percentage of grade Ⅲ, Ⅳ on joint X-ray at 3 months after treatment, which decreased at 1 and 2 years after the treatment, and the joint function score was also decreased (P < 0.05). The joint function scores had notable difference between the treated group and control group at 3 months, 2 and 3 years after treatment (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were few patients suffered from slightly adverse reaction in the BZXD group. It proves that the short-term and long-term results of BZXD are obviously superior to the combination of methotrexate and sufasalazine therapy on RA patients in inhibiting joint bone destruction and protecting joint function, and the adverse effects of BZXD are obviously fewer.