Min Zhang1, Chen Zhao1, Ling Jiang1, Yan Zhu2. 1. Graduate School of Anhui University of CM, Hefei 230000, China. 2. First Department of Geriatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of CM, Hefei 230061.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of moxibustion combined with western medication for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of liver-kidney deficiency, and explore the mechanism of moxibustion for RA. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with RA of liver-kidney deficiency were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the control group，leflunomide tablets were taken orally, once a day. On the base of the treatment as the control group, moxibustion was applied at Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) and ashi points in the observation group, once every other day, three times a week. Totally 8 weeks were required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the TCM syndrome score, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS-28) and serum levels of calcium ion (Ca2+), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and rheumatoid factors (RF) were compared, and the clinicial efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores, HAQ scores and DAS-28 scores were decreased in the two groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of Ca2+ were increased (P<0.01), ESR and hs-CRP were decreased in the two groups (P<0.01), and the serum level of RF was decreased in the observation group (P<0.01). The serum level of Ca2+ in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.01), ESR and RF were lower than the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 83.3% (25/30) in the observation group，higher than 60.0% (18/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Moxibustion combined with western medication can effectively relieve clinical symptoms, improve quality of life in RA patients, the curative effect is better than simple western medication. And its mechanism may be related to the regulation of serum level of Ca2+ and immune inflammatory response to inhibit bone destruction.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of moxibustion combined with western medication for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of liver-kidney deficiency, and explore the mechanism of moxibustion for RA. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with RA of liver-kidney deficiency were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the control group，leflunomide tablets were taken orally, once a day. On the base of the treatment as the control group, moxibustion was applied at Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36) and ashi points in the observation group, once every other day, three times a week. Totally 8 weeks were required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the TCM syndrome score, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, 28-joint disease activity score (DAS-28) and serum levels of calcium ion (Ca2+), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and rheumatoid factors (RF) were compared, and the clinicial efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the TCM syndrome scores, HAQ scores and DAS-28 scores were decreased in the two groups (P<0.01), and those in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of Ca2+ were increased (P<0.01), ESR and hs-CRP were decreased in the two groups (P<0.01), and the serum level of RF was decreased in the observation group (P<0.01). The serum level of Ca2+ in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.01), ESR and RF were lower than the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 83.3% (25/30) in the observation group，higher than 60.0% (18/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion combined with western medication can effectively relieve clinical symptoms, improve quality of life in RApatients, the curative effect is better than simple western medication. And its mechanism may be related to the regulation of serum level of Ca2+ and immune inflammatory response to inhibit bone destruction.