title: [Clinical study of Biqi Capsule combined with methotrexate for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the clinical effects of Biqi Capsule (BQC) combined with methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to study an effective protocol of RA treated by integrative medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and thirty-eight patients with RA were randomly assigned to Group I (44 cases, treated by BQC), Group II (46 cases, treated by MTX), and Group III (48 cases, treated by BQC combined with MTX). The therapeutic course for each group was 12 weeks. The degree of joint pain, the tender joint number, the tender joint index, the swollen joint number, the swollen joint index, the two-hand grip, the morning stiffness time, and related laboratory indices were observed in each group before and after treatment. The adverse reactions were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with before treatment, there was statistical difference in the degree of joint pain, the tender joint number, the tender joint index, the swollen joint number, the swollen joint index, the two-hand grip, the morning stiffness time, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) in the 3 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, better results were obtained in Group III (P < 0.01). As for the inter-group therapeutic efficacy, better results were obtained in Group III (P < 0.01). The gastrointestinal discomfort was the only adverse reaction in the 3 groups. No treatment was given due to its milder symptoms without any effects on the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BQC showed favorable effects on treating RA with no obvious adverse reaction. BQC combined with MTX showed better clinical efficacy than use of BQC or MTX alone. It could reduce the adverse reactions of MTX. BQC combined with MTX could reduce the toxic reactions and enhance the therapeutic effects, indicating it was an effective treatment program for RA.
authors.affiliation: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou (510515).
authors.forename: Hong-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.forename: Qi-Fu
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhao-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008727:Methotrexate