title: [Effect of Sanhuang Yilong Decoction combined MTX on the expression of serum IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis patients of accumulated dampness-heat syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of bitter-cold herbs easing dampness method (BCHEDM) plus Sanhuang Yilong Decoction (SYD) combined with methotrexate (MTX) on expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat syndrome (ADHS).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2011 to January 2013 recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADHS at Department of Integrative Medicine on Rheumatoid Disease, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region. They were assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (45 cases) according to the random digit table produced by SPSS 11.5 Software. Patients in the treatment group were treated by heavy bitter-cold herbs plus SYD combined with MTX, while those in the control group were treated by MTX alone. Expressional levels of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before treatment, at week 2 and 4 after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) were detected as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After two or four weeks of treatment, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 in the treatment group were all lower than before treatment and those of the control group at corresponding time points with statistical difference (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SYD combined MTX could play roles of improving inflammatory indices within 2 weeks, and inhibiting the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 within 4 weeks.
authors: Liu De-Fang
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Luo
authors: Jiao
authors: J
authors: Yan
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zou
authors: Guo Min
authors: Yong-He
authors: YH
authors: Hu
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Ming-Dong
authors: MD
authors: Yun
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Li
authors: Yang Mei
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007375:Interleukin-1; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; C532979:sanhuang; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008727:Methotrexate