OBJECTIVETo study whether the effects of Leflunomide were different in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of different Chinese medical syndrome patterns.

METHODSTotally 150 RA patients were recruited and assigned to 5 Chinese medical syndrome types, i.e., the heat-dampness blocking collateral type, cold-dampness blocking collateral type, Shen-qi deficiency cold type, Gan-Shen yin deficiency type, and stagnant blood blocking collateral type according to Chinese medical syndrome typing standards. They were treated with Leflunomide, 3 months as one therapeutic course. The parameters including numbers of joint tenderness and swelling, morning stiffness time, scores estimated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as laboratory indices involving rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement (ACR20), and American College of Rheumatology 50% improvement (ACR50) were observed before and after treatment, and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSAfter treatment the numbers of joint tenderness, numbers of joint swelling, VAS scores, ESR, CRP, and RF all decreased, showing statistical difference when compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05). The morning stiffness time was shortened in the heat-dampness blocking collateral type, cold-dampness blocking collateral type, and stagnant blood blocking collateral type, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Of them, the numbers of joint tenderness, the numbers of joint swelling, the morning stiffness time, RF, VAS scores, and the improvement of the total effective rate were obviously better in the heat-dampness blocking collateral type, cold-dampness blocking collateral type, and stagnant blood blocking collateral type than in the Shen-qi deficiency cold type and Gan-Shen yin deficiency type, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLeflunomide showed significant effects in treating RA. Of them, its effects were obviously better in the heat-dampness blocking collateral type, cold-dampness blocking collateral type, and stagnant blood blocking collateral type than in the Shen-qi deficiency cold type and Gan-Shen yin deficiency type.