title: [Effect of methotrexate in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis of different Chinese medical syndrome patterns].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether the effects of methotrexate were different in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of different Chinese medical syndrome patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis was conducted in 312 RA patients treated with methotrexate, the Chinese medical syndrome patterns in them were differentiated into the cold-dampness blocking collateral type (SA), the heat-dampness blocking collateral type (SB), the phlegm blood-stasis intermingling type (SC), and the heat-cold complex type (SD). Parameters including numbers of joint with tenderness (Njt) and that with arthroncus (Nja); patient's morning stiffness duration (MSD), scores estimated by visual analog scale (VAS) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ); as well as laboratory indices involving rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), etc. were recorded before and after treatment and statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, improvements were shown in all patients in terms of Njt, Nja, MSD, VAS scores and ESR, showing significant difference as compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05); and the improvements among patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types were different in degree, the best curative effect was shown in patients of SB type (chi2 = 45.3, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Referring to Chinese medical syndrome patterns, the curative effect of methotrexate on patients with Heat-Dampness blocking collateral pattern is better than on those of other pattern.
authors: Department of Integrative Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing. zhaoxiaoyuan_97@163.com
authors: Xia
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Yong-fei
authors: YF
authors: Fang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate