[Clinical study on tripterygium wilfordii complex ester tablet in treating rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the curative effect, toxic and side effect of Tripterygium Wilfordii Complex Ester Tablet (TWT, a preparation of Folium Tripterygium wilfordii) in treating rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Two hundred and seventy seven patients were observed with prospective, multicentric and random double-blind control method. One hundred and forty cases of TWT group were treated with TWT 2 tablets each time, 3 times a day orally, and the other 137 cases treated with Tripterygium Wilfordii Polycoside Tablet (TPT, a preparation of Radix Tripterygium Wilfordii) 2 tablets each time were taken as control, 3 times a day orally. The therapeutic course for both groups was 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The markedly controlled rate of the TWT group was 26.71% and the total effective rate was 86.43%, while those in the control group were 26.28% and 83.94% respectively, the difference between the two groups was insignificant (P > 0.05). The occurrence of side-effect in the two groups was 20.00% and 23.35% respectively, also showed no significant difference (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The Folium Tripterygium Wilfordii preparation is similar in efficacy and security to the Radix Tripterygium Wilfordii preparation.
Du
X
X
Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Traditional Chinese Medical University, Jinan 250011.
Zhang
H
H
Fu
X
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013607:Tablets; D029757:Tripterygium
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004952:Esters; D013607:Tablets