Cochrane Library Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis (Review) Cameron M, Gagnier JJ, Chrubasik S Cameron M, Gagnier JJ, Chrubasik S. Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD002948. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002948.pub2. www.cochranelibrary.com Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis (Review) Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Cochrane Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Library Better health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S HEADER......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS.............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 METHODS..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 RESULTS........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................................................................... 16 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 CHARACTERISTICS OF STUDIES.................................................................................................................................................................. 22 DATA AND ANALYSES.................................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Analysis 1.1. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 1 Pain VAS 0-100...................................................... 40 Analysis 1.2. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 2 Morning sti@ness (minutes)................................. 41 Analysis 1.3. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 3 68 tender joint count percentage change from 41 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.4. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 4 66 swollen joint count percentage change from 42 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.5. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 5 Joint tenderness (0 to 3) percentage change from 42 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.6. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 6 Joint swelling (0 to 3) percentage change from 42 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.7. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 7 HAQ disability score percentage change from 43 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.8. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 8 Patient global (0 to 4) percentage change from 43 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.9. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 9 Physician global (0 to 4) percentage change from 43 baseline.................................................................................................................................................................................................. Analysis 1.10. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 10 Participants (n) reported reduced NSAID use..... 43 Analysis 1.11. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 11 Participants (n) reported adverse events......... 44 Analysis 1.12. Comparison 1 Gamma-linolenic acid versus placebo, Outcome 12 Participants (n) withdrawn due to worsening 44 disease................................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 2.1. Comparison 2 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 60 mg versus placebo, Outcome 1 Joint tenderness (0 to 3)................ 45 Analysis 2.2. Comparison 2 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 60 mg versus placebo, Outcome 2 60 swollen joint count................... 45 Analysis 2.3. Comparison 2 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 60 mg versus placebo, Outcome 3 Morning sti@ness (hours)............... 45 Analysis 2.4. Comparison 2 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 60 mg versus placebo, Outcome 4 Grip strength (mmHg)................... 45 Analysis 2.5. Comparison 2 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 60 mg versus placebo, Outcome 5 15 metre walking time (seconds)..... 46 Analysis 3.1. Comparison 3 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus placebo, Outcome 1 ACR20 responders....................... 46 Analysis 3.2. Comparison 3 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus placebo, Outcome 2 ACR50 responders....................... 46 Analysis 3.3. Comparison 3 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus placebo, Outcome 3 Participants (n) reported adverse 46 events..................................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 4.1. Comparison 4 Triptrygium wilfordii Hook F 360 mg versus placebo, Outcome 1 ACR20 responders......................... 47 Analysis 4.2. Comparison 4 Triptrygium wilfordii Hook F 360 mg versus placebo, Outcome 2 ACR50 responders......................... 47 Analysis 4.3. Comparison 4 Triptrygium wilfordii Hook F 360 mg versus placebo, Outcome 3 Participants (n) reported adverse 47 events..................................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 5.1. Comparison 5 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus sulfasalazine, Outcome 1 ACR20 responders............... 48 Analysis 5.2. Comparison 5 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus sulfasalazine, Outcome 2 ACR50 responders............... 48 Analysis 5.3. Comparison 5 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus sulfasalazine, Outcome 3 Improvement more than 0.3 48 units on HAQ......................................................................................................................................................................................... Analysis 5.4. Comparison 5 Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F 180 mg versus sulfasalazine, Outcome 4 Participants (n) reported 48 adverse events...................................................................................................................................................................................... Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis (Review) i Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Cochrane Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Library Better