The observe the clinical effect of leflunomide (LEF) and total glucosides of Paeony (TGP) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their influences on laboratory findings.
Eighty patients with RA were randomly divided into 2 groups, 40 in each group: the treated group treated with TGP and leflunomide, and the control group treated with LEF alone, the therapeutic course for both groups was 12 weeks. Clinical effect after treatment, changes of symptoms and physical signs before and after treatment were observed and the relative laboratory indexes were detected as well.
The total effective rate in the treated group was higher than that in the control group (97.5% vs 85.0%, P < 0.05). The clinical and laboratory indexes in the treated group were improved significantly after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with the improvement superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) respectively. There was no significant difference in adverse reaction between the two groups.
Combined application of TGP and LEF is superior to using of LEF alone in treating RA, owing to its quicker initiating action and less adverse reaction.