To study the effect of Qingfengteng Decoction（青风藤汤）on the changes of CXCchemokine ligand 13（CXCL13）and macrophage inflammatory protein 1α（MIP-1α）in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Seventy-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis were selected and divided into two groups by using the random number method. The methotrexate group was given methotrexate tablets for treatment，and the Qingfengteng Decoction group added Qingfengteng Decoction for adjuvant treatment to analyse the effect of the two groups after treatment.

The comparison of morning stiffness time，twohanded grip strength，number of joint pressure pain and 20 m walking time in the two groups showed no statistical difference（P>0.05）. Comparing the two groups before and after treatment，morning stiffness time，the number of joint pressure pain and 20 m walking time decreased in both groups，and the morning stiffness time，the number of joint pressure pain and 20 m walking time were lower in the Qingfengteng Decoction group than those in the methotrexate group after treatment（P<0.05）. Hands grip strength was elevated in both groups，and hands grip strength was higher in the Qingfengteng Decoction group than that in the methotrexate group after treatment（P<0.05）. The comparison of CXCL13，MIP-1α，ESR and interleukin between the two groups showed no statistical difference（P>0.05）. Comparing the two groups before and after treatment，the levels of interleukin-21（IL-21），CXCL13，blood sedimentation rate（ESR），interleukin-27（IL-27），MIP-1αand interleukin-32（IL-32）were reduced in the two groups，and in the Qingfengteng Decoction group，they were all lower than those of the methotrexate group after treatment（P<0.05）. There was no statistically significant difference in disease activity score 28（DAS28）between the two groups（P>0.05）. Comparing the two groups before and after treatment，the DAS28 scores of both groups were reduced，and the score of the Qingfengteng Decoction group was lower than that of the methotrexate group after treatment（P<0.05）.

The adjuvant treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can inhibit the expression levels of CXCL13，MIP1αand ESR，reduce the inflammatory response and disease activity and relieve the clinical symptoms.