<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the
clinical efficacy of
moxibustion on
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the
patients and the impacts on the inflammatory indices.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>Forty RA
patients were randomized into an
observation group and a
control group, 20 cases in each one. In the
control group,
diclofenac sodium sustained release
tablets were used, 0.3 g each
time, twice a day;
methotrexate tablets were used, 10 mg each
time, once a week;
folic acid was used, 5 mg each
time, once a week. In the
observation group, on the basis of the
treatment as the
control group,
moxibustion was added specially on the swelling and painful
joints, once a day, 15-20 min each
time till the local
skin turned slightly red. The
treatment was given once a day, at the interval of 1 day after every 6
treatments. In the two groups, the
efficacy was observed after 30-day
treatment. Before and
after treatment, the
rheumatoid factor (RF),
high sensitivity C-reactive protein (
hs-CRP),
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),
disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) and the score of
joint symptom and physical signs were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those before
treatment, the levels of RF,
hs-CRP, ESR, DAS-28 and the symptom scale score were all reduced in the RA
patients of the two groups
after treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the
control group, the levels of RF,
hs-CRP, ESR, DAS-28 and the symptom scale score in the
observation group were improved much apparently (all P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 85.0% (17/20) in the
observation group and was 80.0% (16/20) in the
control group. The total effective rate in the
observation group was apparently better than that in the
control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>
Moxibustion as supplement relieves the
joint symptoms, reduces the inflammatory reactive indices and improves the
clinical efficacy in the RA
patients.</p>