Objective: To evaluate the effects and safety of tripterygium for ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Method: Such database as PUBMED

EMBASE-ASP

Cochrane Library

OVID

Springer-link CNKI

VIP

Wanfang and CBM

ect

were searched from the date of their establishment to December 2012.The quality of included studies was evaluated

and meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.1 software. Result: A total of 8 RCTs involving 576 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the tripterygium and Chinese herbal compound groups in the effect on improving the chest movement

the Occiput-Wall distance

the Finger-Ground distance and C-reactive protein.The Chinese herbal compound showed more effects in improving the total effective rate

the duration of morning stiffness

the Schober test and reducing C-reactive protein.The tripterygium may cause to postpone to menstrual period

gastrointestinal adverse reactions

liver dysfunction

and so on. Conclusion: Use high quality clinical trials to further prove the clinical effects and safety of tripterygium for AS is necessary promptly.