title: [Clinical observation on small doses Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside combined with methotrexate in treating rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect and adverse reaction of small doses Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) combined with methotrexate (MT) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy RA patients were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (35 patients) and the TWP combined MT Group (TWPM group). Both of them were continued to use the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The control group took MT 15 mg orally, once every week; the TWPM group took TWP 10 mg orally, 3 times a day, and MT 7.5 mg orally once every week. The clinical effect and adverse reaction after treatment were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The markedly effective rate in the control group and the TWPM group was 28.6% and 34.3% respectively, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). Data of symptoms and signs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF) were determined respectively with significant difference (P < 0.01). The rate of adverse reaction was 20 cases-times in the control group and 8 cases-times in the TWPM group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MT combined small doses of TWP in treating RA has better effect and less adverse reactions than un-combined MT.
authors.affiliation: 117 Hospital of PLA, Hangzhou 310013.
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006027:Glycosides; D008727:Methotrexate