[Clinical observation on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with biqi capsule].
OBJECTIVE
To study the indication and clinical efficacy of Biqi capsule (BC) in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
One hundred and forty-two RA patients were randomly divided into the BC treated group and the control group treated with nimesulide tablet (NT). There were 36 patients with dampness-heat blockage syndrome type and 35 patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome type in each group. The treatment course lasted for 8 weeks.


RESULTS
The total effective rate in the BC group was 66.2% (47 cases), while that in the control group was 60.6% (43 cases). The total effective rate in the patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome type in the BC group was 91.4%, superior to that with dampness-heat blockage type (41.7%). Only one patient showed mild adverse reaction in the BC group.


CONCLUSIONS
BC is a kind of safe and effective herble medicine for treatment of RA, especially for those of Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome type.
Rheumatic Department, the First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of TCM, Tianjin 300193. fengshiliuwei@163.com
Wei
W
Liu
Lei
L
Zhang
Zhao
Z
Xu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002214:Capsules; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy
D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal