Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Gubi prescription on kidney deficiency and blood stasis type knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and investigate its protective function for articular cartilage. Method: The 86 cases of KOA patients who met the requirements from the department of rheumatology outpatient clinic in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine since June 2015 to February 2016 were divided into 2 groups according to the random number table method. Patients in control group (43 cases) orally took glucosamine hydrochloride capsules

and patients in treatment group (43 cases) orally took Gubi prescription on the basis of the treatment in control group. The course of treatment was 12 weeks in both groups. Before treatment and 4

8

12 weeks after treatment

the Lequesne index and knee joint motion function tests were performed in patients to grade the knee joint symptoms

functions and quality of life

and their articular cartilage

synovial membrane and joint effusion were evaluated by high frequency ultrasound. In addition

their clinical curative effects were compared and adverse reactions were recorded. Result: The clinical efficacy was 95.12% in treatment group

higher than 77.5% in control group (P<0.05)

the treatment group could more quickly improve the Lequesne index score

knee function and reduce the joint synovial thickness

fluid volume

and blood flow signal strength

because after treatment

the above indexes in treatment group were better than those in control group (P < 0.05

P < 0.01). The thickness of articular cartilage was not significantly improved in both groups

and the thickness of cartilage of medial femoral condyle in treamtnet group was larger than that in control group

but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Gubi prescription can effectively improve the clinical symptoms and the knee joint function of the patients with knee osteoarthritis

enhance the quality of life

reduce the inflammation of the synovial membrane

and may have a protective effect on cartilage.