A traditional Chinese herbal remedy is as effective at treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a drug that is frequently prescribed for the joint condition, a new study has found.

RA is a chronic and often painful disease affecting the joints, causing them to become inflamed. An inflamed joint looks swollen and red and appears warm to touch. This inflammation can lead to permanent damage in the joints if the disease is not treated. Around 40,000 people in Ireland are affected.

One of the most commonly prescribed drugs used to treat active RA is methotrexate. Chinese scientists decided to compare it to Triptergium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF), which is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat swelling, inflammation and joint pain.

TwHF is already approved in China for the treatment of RA.

Over 200 patients with active RA were randomly split into three groups. The first group received 12.5mg of methotrexate once a week, the second group received 20mg of TwHF three times a day and the third group received a combination of the two.

They were monitored over a 24-week period.

The scientists wanted to see if any of these treatments would lead to patients achieving an ACR 50 response. This is a measurement defined by the American College of Rheumatology and refers to a 50% improvement in the number of swollen or tender joints and other criteria, such as disability and pain.

The study found that 46% of the patients receiving just methotrexate achieved an ACR 50 response. Among those receiving just TwHF, this figure rose to 55%.

However, where patients were given both methotrexate and TwHF, 77% achieved an ACR 50 response.

The scientists found little difference between the type or frequency of side-effects within the three groups.

They warned that a longer study is required as 24 weeks is not long enough to analyse long-term disease progression. However, they insisted that TwHF could signal an exciting new approach to the treatment of RA, particularly as some of the drugs used to treat the condition are expensive and not all patients respond to them.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

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