Efficacy of Adding Kampo Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

We added Kampo medicine (Japanese traditional herbal medicine) to disease-­modifying anti-­rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 41 patients. After 1 year, disease activity assessments showed improvement in the number of tender joints and DAS 28-­CRP, and Boolean remission increased from 3 cases to 6 cases. However, 16 of 41 patients had an insufficient therapeutic effect with Kampo medicine ; therefore, their DMARD treatment was strengthened. Disease activity in the 16 patients with strengthened DMARD therapy (Western group) was compared with that in the 25 patients who did not require strengthened DMARD therapy (Kampo group). The Western group had high disease activity at the beginning of Kampo medicine, and a year later CRP and DAS 28­-CRP improved. In the Kampo group, disease activity was relatively good at the beginning of Kampo medicine, and patient global assessment (PGA) improved. We believe that combination therapy, with DMARDs controlling synovitis and Kampo medicine improving PGA, is an effective way to achieve Boolean remission.