OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of acupoint catgut embedding combined with vessel pricking therapy for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODSEighty-six cases of AS were randomly divided into an acupoint catgut embedding combined vessel pricking group (group A) and a medication group(group B), 43 cases in each group. In the group A, acupoint catgut embedding combined with vessel pricking therapy were applied at Shenshu(BL 23), Dazhu (BL 11) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) etc. The group B was treated with oral administration of Sulfasalazine (SASP). The treatment lasted for 8 weeks. Symptom score, Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), the indices of morning stiff duration, Schober test, occiput to wall distance, chest expansion, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-response protein (CRP) were compared before and after treatment between two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the total effective rate was 83.7% (36/43) in the group A, which was superior to that of 70.0% (28/40) in the group B (P < 0.05). The improvements of all indices in two groups were more significant than those before treatment (all P < 0.01), and symptom score, Schober test score and VAS score in group A were superior to those in the group B (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). No adverse reaction occurred in the group A.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding combined with vessel pricking therapy for AS is preferable without any adverse effects, which is superior to that of oral administration of SASP.