【Abstract】〓Objective〓To investigate the short term effect of tripterygium glycosides and methotrexate in treating rheumatoid arthritis and its influence on IL1, IL6 and TNFα. Methods〓112 RA patients in our hospital from February 2015 to January 2017 were selected and divided into observation group and control group, 56 cases in each group. Control group was given 10mg oral methotrexate, one time one week. Observation group was given 20mg oral tripterygium glycosides based on control group, three times one day. The clinic data, the short term effect and index level of TNFα, IL6 and IL1 were observed. Results〓After treatment, clinic symptoms and physical sign relieved degree of observation group were higher than that of control group (P<005). After treatment, TNFα, IL6 and IL1 of observation group declined more than that of control group (P<005). The total efficiency of observation group ［54 cases, 9250％］ was higher than that of control group ［45 cases, 8036％］ (P<005). After treatment, the overall evaluation of observation group was lower than that of control group (P<005). The adverse reaction rate of observation group (893 %) was lower than that of control group (2679 %) (P<005). Conclusion〓Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside combined with methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has a good clinical efficacy. Two kinds of drugs play a synergistic effect, can inhibit the expression of peripheral serum L6, IL1 and TNFalpha level, reduce inflammation, improve the signs and symptoms of RA patients, reduce the incidence of adverse reactions and improve the security of treatment, which can be used as a safe and effective method in treatment of patients with RA.