[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.
Liu
Wei
W
Rheumatic Department, the First Hospital Affiliated to Tianjin College of TCM, Tianjin 300193. fengshiliuwei@163.com
Zhang
Lei
L
Xu
Zhao
Z
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