OBJECTIVETo search for a new method for treatment of acute gouty arthritis.

METHODSOne hundred cases of acute gouty arthritis were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. The observation group were treated with local blocking and electroacupuncture at Yinbai (SP 1), Taichong (LR 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Ashi points, and the control group were treated with oral administration of 25 mg Indomethacin, thrice each day, and 100 mg Allopurinol, thrice daily. The therapeutic effects and changes of pain score, serum uric acid were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 96.4% in the observation group and 84.1% in the control group, the former being better than the later (P < 0.05). Before and after treatment, pain scores were 3.48 +/- 1.05 and 0.94 +/- 10.85, 3.45 +/- 1.07 and 2.11 +/- 0.91, and serum uric acid contents were (539.16 +/- 34.49) micromol/L and (376.30 +/- 52.85) micromol/L, and (552.29 +/- 46.15) micromol/L and (425.79 +/- 48.69) micromol/L in the two group, respectively. After treatment, pain score and serum uric acid content very significantly decreased in the two groups (both P < 0.01) and the observation group in the analgesic effect and the effect in decreasing serum uric acid content was better than the control group (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with local blocking is an effective method for treatment of acute gouty arthritis and it can decrease blood uric acid level.