Zhou Xue-ping

Clinical and experimental study on treatment of mid-late stage rheumatoid arthritis with Shuguan Granules ( Open image in new window ))

Objective: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of Shuguan Granule (, SGG) in treating mid-late stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: Based on the principle of reinforcing Kidney to treat arthritis, removing phlegm to relieve stasis, two SGG, Shuguan Wenjing (SW) and Shuguan Qingluo (SQ) were prepared and used to treat 44 and 43 mid-late stage patients of RA respectively. The clinical results were compared with those of Wangbi Granule. Animal experiments on the effect of these two SGG were conducted.Results: The total effective rate of the SW, SQ and control group was 88.64%, 93.02% and 73.17% respectively. Results of experimental studies in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis showed that the two SGG obviously raise the level of serum superoxide dismutase, and lowered the levels of serum interleukin-1, plasma prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2, as compared with the model group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05,P < 0.01).Conclusion: The two SGG have a comprehensive function of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidatory, antihypercoagulatory and immunoregulatory effect.