30 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） were treated with Hong Ban Decoction and other 30 cases were mainly treated with predisone as controls. Hong Ban Decoction in eliminating proteinuria

improving blood picture and serositis

and reducing complications was superior to the control group

suggesting that Hong Ban Decoction has such pharmacologic actions as anti - vasculitis

regulating abnormal immunological function and decreasing inflammatory exudate. The total effective rate for a half year was 93. 33% in the treatment group and 86. 67% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups （P > 0. 05）. Three years later

the total effective rate （87. 5%） in the treatment group was superior to that （58. 62%） in the control group （P < 0. 05）. It is suggested that the therapeutic effect of Hong Ban Decoction is better than predisone in the long -term effect.