ABSTRACT
Objective to investigate the efficacy of moxibustion treatment to rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients and the impact to blood levels of rheumatoid factor(RF) ,C reactive protein(CRP) ,and interleukin-6(IL-6) .Methods RA patients were divided in-to treatment group and comfort group .The two groups were treated by moxibustion and sham-moxibustion for 2 courses ,respec-tievely .Results Overall clinical efficacy rate was higher in treatment group than in comfort group(P<0 .01) .The arthralgia ,ar-throcele ,tenderness and its degrees ,and morning stiffness time were significant improved in both groups(P<0 .05) ,and the indexes were better in treatment group than comfort group(P<0 .05) .The blood levels of RF ,IL-6 and CRP were reduced after treatment in both groups(P<0 .05) ,and which of treatment group reduced more than those of comfort group(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Moxi-bustion treatment can significantly improve clinical outcomes of RA and markedly reduce the blood levels of RF ,IL-6 and CRP of RA patients .