OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic efficacy and adverse reaction of total glucosides of paeony (TGP, extracted from Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODSClinical data of patients with SLE were analyzed. Those who orally took TGP continuously for five years or more were taken as TGP1 group (29 cases). Those who orally took TGP continuously or intermittently for more than one year but less than five years were taken as TGP2 group (47 cases). Twenty patients matched with the TGP1 group and the TGP2 group in age, affected duration, urine protein, and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) were selected as the control group. The average daily dose of prednisone, total cyclophosphamide (CTX) dose, urine protein, SLEDAI score, recurrent case, and episodes of infection were compared among the three groups after five-year treatment.

RESULTSThe average daily dose of prednisone, total CTX dose, and SLEDAI score were obviously lower in the TGP1 group than in the control group (P<0.01). The average daily dose of prednisone, total CTX dose, and SLEDAI score were obviously lower in the TGP1 group than in the TGP2 group, Significant difference was shown (P <0. 05). The average daily dose of prednisone and total CTX dose were lower in the TGP2 group than in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the urine protein among the three groups. As for the recurrence, one case occurred in the TGP1 group, nine in the TGP2 group, and seven in the control group. As for episodes of infection, there were three cases in the TGP1 group, seventeen in the TGP2 group, and eighteen in the control group during the five years. No adverse reaction correlated to TGP was found in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONSTGP had definite therapeutic efficacy in treatment of patients with SLE. It could reduce the average daily dose of prednisone and the total CTX dose, lower the recurrent cases and episodes of infection, especially for the medication of more than five years.