ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Shugan Jianpi Gusui Recipe (SJGR) on multiple sclerosis (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case cohort study was used. The MS patients were assigned to the test group (14 cases) and the control group (21 cases) according to whether they would combine with Chinese herbs. Corticosteroids or gamma globulin was administered to all patients in the acute phase. SJGR was administered to patients in the test group in the remission phase, while those in the control group were not treated or treated by azathioprine alone. They were followed-up for a long time after their first visits. The observation time ranged 10-131 successive months. The recurrence intervals and the yearly average recurrence times were calculated in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When compared with before treatment, the recurrence interval was obviously prolonged, and the yearly average recurrence times decreased in the test group after treatment with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was statistical difference in the recurrence interval and the yearly average recurrence times between the test group and the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SJGR showed better effects in prolonging the recurrence interval and reducing the yearly average recurrence times of MS patients. It is worth further researches.</p>