Effect of the Artificial CO2-Bathing on Rheumatoid Arthritis / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The effect of Artificial CO₂-bathing was compared with that of placebo bathing on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A large tablet containing sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, which is called Bub, was used to make CO₂ gas as it dissolves in water bath. A placebo tablet, which is quite same in the appearance, has the substrate only and makes no gas. So the trial was performed by single blind method.<br>Forty two RA patients (definite or classical) were tested by single bathing and other 40 RA patients, by serial bathing of 30 days (once a day). After a single bathing grip strength of the patients increased significantly in both groups, but more significantly in Bub group (p<0.01 vs p<0.05). The joint tenderness also reduced significantly after a single bathing in both groups, almost equally. However plasma β endorphin levels were little changed after single bathing in both groups.<br>By serial bathing of 30 days, Lansbury's activity index, ADL score, and pain score were all changed insignificantly in each group. However Bub group showed a tendency to improve in the 3 parameters, whereas placebo group did a tendency to deteriorate.<br>From the above results it was considered that artificial CO₂-bathing may exert more beneficial effects on RA patients, as compared with plain water bathing.