title: A randomized double blind, placebo controlled trial of topical Tripterygium wilfordii in rheumatoid arthritis: reanalysis using logistic regression analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of topical Tripterygium wilfordii (TW), a Chinese herbal therapy, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6 week randomized double blind placebo controlled study of 61 patients with RA meeting American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria was conducted in China. The primary outcome was a modified ACR-20 response rate, analyzed by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modified ACR-20 response rate differed significantly (topical TW 58% vs placebo 20%; p = 0.002). There was an 8.1-fold (95% CI 1.9-35.4) increase in the modified ACR-20 response for the TW compared to the placebo group, adjusted for age and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical TW appears efficacious for the treatment of RA, but larger studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research Centre of Canada and the Canadian HIV Trials Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Jolanda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cibere
authors.forename: Zhaozhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yuanchang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Runmei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Yiting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Anona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thorne
authors.forename: Allen J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Ian K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Esdaile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010919:Placebos; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D029757:Tripterygium
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D028321:Plant Preparations