Clinical Observation On Guishao Tongluo Decoction In Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis With Simultaneous Occurrence Of Cold And Heat Syndrome

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Guishao Tongluo decoction in treating RA with simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndrome, and discuss the etiology, pathogenesis and therapeutic principle of this syndrome. Methods: By a randomized, controlled method,60cases of RA patients with simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group which were treated with methotrexate(MTX) and Guishao Tongluo decoction and control group which were treated with methotrexate(MTX) and hydroxychloroquine(HCQ). Both groups were observed for 12 weeks. Results: 1. There is no significant difference between the two groups in total effective rates and numbers that reached ACR20 criteria (P>0.05), also there is no no significant difference in DAS28 scores, joint function grading and X-ray staging (P>0.05). 2. In effective rate of TCM symptoms and HAQ scores, treatment group had better effect than control group(P<0.05). Both groups could improve patients' joint pain, joint swelling, inconvenient flexion and morning stiffness, but treatment group had better effect in local fever, aversion to cold, more serious in rainy days, heaviness of limbs,thirsty,recessive fever,rednness of skin color and sweating compaired to control group (P<0.05). 3. The adverse reaction rate in treatment group is 10%, compaired to 23% in cotrol group, which illustrates that treatment group had higher security, but the adverse reaction of both groups can disappear when received treatment. Conclusion: Both methods have good therapeutic effect for RA with simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndrome, but treatment group has better effect in TCM symptoms compaired to control group. Guishao Tongluo Decoction can treat the syndrome with good effect and high security.