Observations on the Efficacy of Superficial Needling Therapy for Early Ankylosing Spondylitis / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of superficial needling therapy for early ankylosing spondylitis and its effect on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).Methods Eighty patients with early ankylosing spondylitis meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups using random number card method with the ratio of 1:1, 40 cases each. The treatment group received superficial needling therapy alone and the control group, conventional treatment with celecoxib capsules, methotrexate tablets and sulfasalazine enteric-coated tablets. Treatment was given for a total of 24 weeks. Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI), lumbago, TCM syndrome score, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 were observed in the two groups before and after treatment.Results The BASDAI, BASFI, lumbago, TCM syndrome score, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 improved in the two groups after treatment compared with those before the treatment (P<0.05). The BASDAI, BASFI, lumbago, TCM syndrome score, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 in the treatment group superior to those in the control group after the treatment (P<0.05).Conclusions Superficial needling therapy can relieve the clinical symptoms in patients with early ankylosing spondylitis and improve spinal joint function with good safety. Its mechanism may be related to reducing inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6.