ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe therapeutic effect of acupoint embedding thread therapy on ulcerative colitis and to study the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rat model of ulcerative colitis was developed with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene method. The 20th day after the end of model development, they were randomly divided into a model group, a salicylazosulfapyridine (SASP) treatment group and an acupoint embedding thread therapy group. The SASP treatment group were treated with intragastrical perfusion of 4.5% SASP suspension, and the acupoint embedding thread therapy group were treated with embedding thread at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37). Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) was detected with indirect immunofluorescence, and the pathological changes were investigated with pathological tissue section technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of ANCA reached to 62.5% in the rat with ulcerative colitis with significant differences among the 3 groups. After treatment, the positive rate of ANCA was decreased in the two treatment groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupoint embedding thread therapy has definite therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis and the mechanism is possibly related with the decrease of ANCA.</p>