ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the efficacy of polyglycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii(GTW) in preventing postoperative recurrence of Crohn disease(CD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-nine post-operative CD patients in whom all of the diseased gut had been removed from January 2005 to December 2006 were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The patients took GTW(21 cases) or SASP(18 cases) in two weeks after operation. Crohn disease activity index(CDAI), ESR and CRP were collected at week 0, 13, 26, 52 or at the onset of symptoms. Ileocolonoscopy was performed at the end of the trial or at the onset of symptoms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One patient in GTW group and 2 patients in SASP group were lost and 2 patients in GTW were excluded from the trial for non-compliance. Clinical recurrence was ascertained in one patient (5.6%) received GTW and in four (25.0%) received SASP. Four of eighteen patients in GTW(22.2%) had endoscopic recurrence compared with nine of sixteen(56.2%) in SASP. There were significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tripterygium wilfordii showed good efficacy in preventing recurrence of postoperative CD which can maintain remission and prevent recurrence.</p>