Clinical Efficacy of Methotrexate Combined with Iguratimod on Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Influence on the Expression Levels of HOTAIR in Serum

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to explore the clinical efficacy of methotrexate combined with iguratimod on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its influence on the expression levels of HOTAIR in serum. METHODS: A total of 268 RA patients were selected as research objects, 145 patients received methotrexate alone were used as a control group (CG), 123 patients received methotrexate combined with iguratimod were taken as a research group (RG), and serum of 60 healthy people undergoing physical examination was selected as a healthy control group (HCG). The therapeutic value of two therapeutic methods for RA was compared, and the HOTAIR expression in serum was detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with methotrexate used alone, the joint use of methotrexate and iguratimod could provide better clinical efficacy for RA patients and would not increase the incidence of adverse events. HOTAIR was highly expressed in the serum of RA patients, and its expression decreased after treatment. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy of methotrexate and iguratimod is a safe and effective way to treat RA patients, which can be popularized clinically.