Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Shentong Zhuyutang combined with western medicine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Method: A total of 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly divided into treatment group and control group

with 60 cases in each group. The basic therapy included methotrexate 10 mg/time

1 time/week

Leflunomide

20 mg/time

1 time/d

for oral administration. In addition to the basic therapy

the control group was also given Tripterygium glycosides tablets

while the treatment group was also given Shentong Zhuyutang. After 12 weeks of continuous treatment

the differences in the clinical curative effect between two groups were analyzed. Morning stiffness time

tender joint count

swollen joint count

resting pain

20 m walking time

health evaluation questionnaire

as well as laboratory indexes C-reactive protein (CRP)

rheumatoid factor (RF)

tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were observed. Result: The total effective rate of the treatment group was 91.7%

which was higher than 83.3% of control group

with statistically significant differences between two groups (P<0.05). Compared with control group

DAS28 score

morning stiffness

rest pain

tender joint count

swollen joint count

20 m walking time and HAQ score of the treatment group were lower than those of the control group

but with handgrip strength higher than control group (P<0.05). CRP

ESR

RF

TNF-α and IL-1 in treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Shentong Zhuyutang combined with western medicine showed stronger advantages in improving efficacy

controlling symptoms

improving laboratory indexes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

with a higher safety

and is worth clinical promotion and application.