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.