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Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with medicated moxibustion plus salicylazosulfapyridine and methotrexate--a report of 30 cases.

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of medicated moxibustion plus administration of salicylazosulfapyridine (SASP) and methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).


METHOD
Ninety cases of active AS were randomly assigned to Group A, B and C (N = 30 in each group), and treated respectively with SASP and MTX, acupuncture plus SASP and MTX, and composite sulfur (tablet) moxibustion plus SASP and MTX for 3 successive courses (2 months each course with an interval of 5 days).


RESULTS
Improvement in sacroiliitis index, Schober test, occipital wall test, finger-ground distance, as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the content of C-reactive protein (CRP) in Group B and C was far superior to that of Group A (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSION
Combined use of western medicine with acupuncture or with medicated moxibustion produces a better therapeutic effect than western medicine given alone.