Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus medication for rheumatic arthritis （RA）. Methods： A total of 80 RA cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 in each gr...Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus medication for rheumatic arthritis （RA）. Methods： A total of 80 RA cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 in each group. Cases in the observation group received antirheumatic agents and acupuncture therapy, whereas cases in the control group received antirheumatic agents alone. The therapeutic efficacies were observed after 3 sessions of treatment. Results： After the treatment, patients in the observation group had significant improvement in their morning stiffness time, average grip of both hands, joint tenderness and joint swelling, showing statistical significances （P〈0.01）; symptoms of patients in the control group were also remarkably improved （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）. Compared with the control group, the improvements in joint tenderness and average grip of both hands in the observation group were more significant （P〈0.05）. After treatment, the Health Assessment Questionnaire （HAQ） points were significantly improved in both groups, erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and C-reactive protein （CRP） in both groups were remarkably reduced （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）; however, compared with the control group, the CRP decrease in the observation group was more significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus antirheumatic agents can effectively increase the RA patients＇ activities of daily living （ADL） and thus improve their quality of life.展开更多
文摘Objective： To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus medication for rheumatic arthritis （RA）. Methods： A total of 80 RA cases were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 in each group. Cases in the observation group received antirheumatic agents and acupuncture therapy, whereas cases in the control group received antirheumatic agents alone. The therapeutic efficacies were observed after 3 sessions of treatment. Results： After the treatment, patients in the observation group had significant improvement in their morning stiffness time, average grip of both hands, joint tenderness and joint swelling, showing statistical significances （P〈0.01）; symptoms of patients in the control group were also remarkably improved （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）. Compared with the control group, the improvements in joint tenderness and average grip of both hands in the observation group were more significant （P〈0.05）. After treatment, the Health Assessment Questionnaire （HAQ） points were significantly improved in both groups, erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR） and C-reactive protein （CRP） in both groups were remarkably reduced （P〈0.01, P〈0.05）; however, compared with the control group, the CRP decrease in the observation group was more significant （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Acupuncture plus antirheumatic agents can effectively increase the RA patients＇ activities of daily living （ADL） and thus improve their quality of life.
