[Efficacy of combined therapy with ginsenosides and prednisone in treating systemic lupus erythematosus--a randomized, controlled and double-blinded trial].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the therapeutic efficacy of combined therapy with ginsenosides (GS) and prednisone on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Sixty patients with SLE were assigned to 2 groups randomly by a randomizing digital table, the treated group and the control group, 30 cases in each group. All patients were treated with routine administration of prednisone, but to the treated group GS Capsule (50 mg) was given additionally twice every day, while to the control group placebo capsule of equal dosage was given instead. The total clinical efficacy, and changes of systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complement 3 (C3) and anti-ds-DNA were observed after 3-month-treatment.


RESULTS
The total clinical efficacy rate was 89.28% in the treated group and 66.67% in the control group, showing a significant difference between them (P<0.05). The improvements of SLEDAI, ESR and C3 in the treated group were more significant than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The combined therapy of GS and prednisone could enhance the clinical efficacy, reduce the SLEDAI and promote the recovery of laboratory indices in SLE patients.
You
Yan-Li
YL
Department of TCM, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai.
Ling
Chang-quan
CQ
Feng
Ying-Lu
YL
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D036145:Ginsenosides; D011241:Prednisone