[Long-term efficacy of integrative medicine for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the long-term efficacy of integrative medicine in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Adopting randomized grouping method, the SLE patients were assigned to two groups, 74 in each group, the treatment group treated by combined hormonotherapy with Chinese drugs for detoxifying, and the control group treated by hormonotherapy alone. The period of the stable phase and active phase, clinical manifestations, 24-h urinary protein, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and complement 3 (C3), etc. were observed.


RESULTS
After 5-year treatment, the clinical manifestations, including arthritis, hydrohymenitis and fever revealed between groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). Comparison between groups in the 5th year of observation showed that the treatment group had a longer time of the stable phase (305.41 +/- 14.32 days); lower SLEDAI scores (8.28 +/- 4.12) and 24-h urinary protein (0.18 +/- 0.01)g, and a higher level of C3 (0.98 +/- 0.35 g/L) than those in the control group (190.22 +/- 15.43 days, 12.79 +/- 5.43 scores, 0.31 +/- 0.06 g and 0.73 +/- 0.34 g/L), respectively, with statistical significances (P < 0.05). Adverse reactions occurred in 15 cases in the treatment group and 62 cases in the control group, also with significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The combined therapy of Chinese and Western medicine can prolong the stable phase time and shorten the lasting period of SLE in patients, which embodies the view of "treating disease before its onset".
Liu
Wei
W
First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin. fengshiliuwei@163.com
Liu
Xiao-ya
XY
Zhang
Hong-bo
HB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011241:Prednisone