Feng Shi Xian Dan was used for treatment of 53 cases of rheumatoid arthritis （RA）

and indomethacin was used for treatment of 53 cases as control. Results showed that the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate were 54. 7 % and 92. 4% in the treatment group

and 26. 4% and 66. 0% in the control group

respectively

with a significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect （P<0. 01）. The improvement extent of the clinical main symptoms and signs

except joint numbers of pain

in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group （P<0. 05 or P<0. 01） : blood sedimentation rate

rheumatoid factor （RF）

C response protein （ CRP ）

immunoglobins （Ig ）

T- lymphocyte subpopulations

microcirculation of nail fold

and red blood cell （RBC） and hemoglobin in the patient of anemia weresignificantly superior to that in the control group （P<0. 05 or F<0. 01） ; there were significant differences in the two group in superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity and lipid hyperoxide （LPO） level before treatment as compared with the normal group OP<0. 05 or P<0. 01)

and after treatment SOD activity and LPO level tended significantly to normal （P<0. 05 or P< 0. 01） in the treatment group

and the lowering amplitude of LPO in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group （P<0. 01） ; the treatment group had no adverse reaction except less cases had symptom in digestive tract. It is indicated that Feng Shi Xian Dan has an obvious therapeutic effect on RA.