Changes in rheumatoid arthritis under ultrasound before and after sinomenine injection

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent clinical autoimmune disease that is commonly treated with diclofenac and methotrexate. In recent years, the application of traditional Chinese medicine in RA has received widespread attention; it promotes blood circulation, strengthens the immune system, and eliminates evil. The sinomenine preparation of Zhingqeng Fengtongning is studied as a possible treatment for patients with RA.

To explore the value of sinomenine injection into the articular cavity for the treatment of RA.

A total of 94 patients with RA treated from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected and divided into the study and control groups with 47 patients each using a simple random number table method. Both groups received conventional treatment with diclofenac sodium and methotrexate tablets. The control group received diproxone and lidocaine by intra-articular administration while the study group received an intra-articular administration of the sinomenine preparation of Zhengqing Fengning and lidocaine. χ ² test was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect and synovial thickness, degree of pain through the visual analog scale (VAS), blood flow grade, arthroinflammatory indexes [rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)] before and after treatment in the two groups.

The total effective rate of the study group (93.62%) was higher than that of the control group (78.72%) (P < 0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of synovial thickness, VAS score, blood flow grading, levels of RF, and ESR (P > 0.05). After treatment, the synovial thickness and VAS score were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the study group than in the control group (2.05 ± 0.59 mm vs 2.87 ± 0.64 mm and 2.11 ± 0.62 vs 2.90 ± 0.79 scores, respectively). The rate of blood flow at grade 0 in the study group (76.60%) was higher than that in the control group (57.45%), and the rate of blood flow at grade I (10.64%) was lower than that in the control group (31.91%) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of RF (55.61 ± 6.13 U/mL), CRP (11.43 ± 3.59 mg/L), and ESR (29.60 ± 5.56 mm/h) in the study group were lower than those in the control group (73.04 ± 9.23 U/mL, 15.07 ± 4.06 mg/L, 36.64 ± 6.10 mm/h, respectively) (P < 0.05).

Sinomenine administration of Zhengqing Fengtongning in the articular cavity with conventional treatment of RA can improve ultrasonographic blood flow and synovial thickness, reduce pain, regulate inflammation, and enhance therapeutic effect.