The clinical trial of the drug efficacy and safety of the (99)Tc methylenediphosphonate injection for treating advanced and critically ill rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have the multiple joints and bones erosions, and the serious dysfunctions was carried out at Qingyang District Chinese Medicine Hospital between January 1, 2006 and December 31,2011.The short-term treatment results of the same drug was reported previously.In accordance with the American Rheumatism Association 1987 classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis, total of 15 patients were treated as the in-patients of our Rheumatoid Arthritis Department, 13 were female, 2 were male, aged from 21 to 81.The duration of illness of rheumatoid arthritis were varied from 7 years to 40 years.At the time of initial evaluation, all of them have the symptoms of severe multiple joint pain, bone erosions,varying degrees of joint dysfunctions and muscle atrophy.Among them, 7 patients were bedridden and unable to feed themselves, and 8 patients were able to sit, but not able to stand up, nor walking.All of the 15 patients have the Glucocorticoids medication history for the maintenance therapy before this 99Tc trial.The six patients were on dexamethasone, and the nine patients were on prednisone for the various duration from the shortest of 6 months to the longest of 16 years.At the beginning of the new drug trial, to select the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, 10 mg/day of prednisone was given to each patient and after evaluation periods, some of them were reduced dosage and some others were discontinued, depending on the clinical condition of the patients, Trial drug,(99)Tc methylenediphosphonate injection dosage: 150mg ~ 450mg / month, 15mg/each infusion.The first month once daily, the second month every other day, and thereafter twice a week as the maintenance therapy for 1 year.