To observe the effect of acupuncture therapeutic courses on rheumatoid arthritis.
Forty-seven patients were treated with acupuncture for 6 courses and at the end of the third and sixth course of treatment, the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on morning rigidity, swelling and pain of joints as well as rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed.
At the end of the third course, the markedly effective rate was 34.0% for morning rigidity, 9.5% for swelling and 23.4% for pain, the RF negative-turning rate was 2.2%, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the reduction of ESR and CRP as compared to that before treatment. However, at the end of the sixth course, the markedly effective rate was 80.9% for morning rigidity, 64.3% for swelling and 87.2% for pain, the RF negative-turning rate was 26.7%, and there was a very significant difference (P < 0.01) in the reduction of ESR and CRP as compared to that before treatment.
More acupuncture therapeutic courses can bring about better therapeutic results on rheumatoid arthritis.