[Clinical study on effect of total panax notoginseng saponins on immune related inner environment imbalance in rheumatoid arthritis patients].
OBJECTIVE
To study the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of total panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to observe its safety and influence on RA immune related inner environment.


METHODS
Eighty-four patients were randomly assigned to two groups. All were treated with the routine therapy with diclofenac sodium, Leflunomide and prednisone, but for the 43 patients in the treatment group PNS was given additionally. The therapeutic course was 28 days for both groups. Clinical efficacy and change of indexes including platelet counts, immnuoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement (C)3, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (CER), haptoglobin (HPT), and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were observed.


RESULTS
Significant improvement of clinical symptoms, including the joint swelling index, joint tenderness index, joint pain index, time of morning stiffness and VAS revealed in both groups after treatment, and the effect in the treatment group was better (P<0.05 or P<0.01). PLT, CER, AAG, HPT, CRP, IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and RF were lowered in both groups (P<0.01), but the lowering in PLT, CER, AAG and CRP in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
PNS can significantly improve the condition of patients, enhance the therapeutic effect in treating RA, through regulating the disordered immunity and improving the effect of anti-inflammatory and analgesia.
Zhang
Jia-hong
JH
Department of Rheumatology, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, Lanzhou. qisecaihong89@126.com
Wang
Jin-ping
JP
Wang
Hui-juan
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012503:Saponins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007555:Isoxazoles; D012503:Saponins; D004008:Diclofenac; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor; D000077339:Leflunomide; D011241:Prednisone