CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF 144 CASES OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH GLYCOSIDE OF RADIX TRIPTERYGIUM WILFORDII

Satisfactory results have been obtained inthe treatment of 144 cases of rheumatoid arthri-tis with glycoside extracted from Radix Trip-terygium Wilfordii.Total effective rate was93.3%(clinical remission 17.6%,effective 37.5%,improvement 38.2%).The course of treatmentwas three months,dosage 1-1.5 mg/kg per os.Side effects included mild gastrointestinal dis-turbances.There also occurred irregular men-struation and amenorrhea in female patients andgynecomastia in males.These adverse reactionssubsided after withdrawal of the drug.Clinicaland laboratory observation suggested that themechanism of the glycoside action was suppres-sion of cellular and humoral immunity.