title: [Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by xinfeng capsule: an efficacy observation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the curative effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XC) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recruited were 80 active RA patients, who were randomly assigned to the normal control group and the treatment group, 40 in each group. All patients received the same routine anti-rheumatic treatment: Methotrexate 10 mg per week; Diclofenac 50 mg when pain was obvious, twice daily. Patients in the treatment group took XC 3 tablets each time, thrice daily. All treatment lasted for 12 consecutive weeks. Serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF), transferrin (TRF); and RA disease activity index (DAS-28) were detected in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  XC could improve HAQ, DAS-28, hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), prostaglandins A (PGA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), number of swelling joints, number of tender joints, and morning stiffness time in acute RA patients, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, SI, SF, DAS-28, and TRF significantly decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  XC could improve DAS-28, and SI reserve in patients with active RA, and lower DAS-28 related indicators.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China. chuanbinh@163.com
authors: Chuan-Bing
authors: CB
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Xi
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Wan-Dong
authors: WD
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Rui-Lian
authors: RL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Gui-Zhen
authors: GZ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230031, China.
authors: Hai-Xia
authors: HX
authors: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C533622:xinfeng