[Toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect of liquorice on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with Tripterygium wilfordii].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect of liquorice on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with Tripterygium wilfordii (TW).


METHODS
One hundred and twenty RA patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the treated group treated with compound decoctum of TW and liquorice and the control group with TW ployglycosidium tablets both based on routine treatment. The therapeutic effect and adverse reaction were observed after 2 months of treatment.


RESULTS
The total efficacy rate was 89.8% in the treated group and 79.6% in the control group with insignificant difference between the two groups; the effect was better in the treated group than that of the control group in decreasing the swollen joint index and increasing the average grip strength of both hands (P < 0.05); the total incidence of adverse reaction was obviously lower in the treated group than that of the control (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Liquorice has toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect on treatment of RA with TW.
Li
Ya-Song
YS
Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM, Hangzhou. lysong2@163.com
Tong
Pei-Jian
PJ
Ma
Hong-Zhen
HZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013607:Tablets