The Influences Of Acupuncture On The Symptoms And The Serum Level Of IL-6 And CRP Of Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and to further analysis the partly mechanism of acupuncture for KOA by analyzing the change of serum IL-6 and CRP.Methods1.54 recruited KOA patents were randomly allocated into acupuncture or celecoxib group,with 27 patients in each group.Patients received acupuncture therapy 10 times in acupuncture group or took 200 mg celecoxib orally daily in celecoxib group for two weeks.The Visual Analogue Score(VAS)and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index(WOMAC)were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy and Short Form 12 health survey questionnaire(SF-12)were used to evaluate the life quality of KOA patients before and after treatment.2.15 patients had been selected randomly from each group for serum Interleukin 6(IL-6)and C-Reactive Protein(CRP)test before and after treatment using ELISA method.The relationship between the VAS change and serum IL-6 or CRP change had been analyzed.Results1.One patient in celecoxib group did not completed the study.The 30 patients for serum testing all completed the study.2.The statistic analysis in baseline:The sex,age,height,weight,course of disease,score of VAS,score of WOMAC,and score of SF-12 showed no significant statistical difference between 27 patients in acupuncture group and 26 patients in celecoxib group(p>0.05).The sex,age,height,weight,course of disease,score of VAS,serum IL-6 and CRP showed no significant statistical difference between 15 patients in acupuncture group and 15 patients in celecoxib group(p>0.05).3.The symptoms changes in KOA patients:(1)The intra-group analysis: The VAS and WOMAC showed significant statistical difference comparing with baseline in both groups(p<0.01).The SF-12 showed significant statistical difference compare baseline in acupuncture group(p<0.01).(2)The among group analysis: The VAS,WOMAC and SF-12 did not showed significant statistical difference between the two groups(p>0.05).4.The change of serum IL-6 and CRP:(1)The intra-group analysis: In acupuncture group,the serum CRP showed significant statistical difference comparing with baseline(p<0.01)and the serum IL-6 showed no significant statistical difference comparing with baseline(p>0.05).In celecoxib group,the serum IL-6 and CRP shoed no significant statistical difference comparing baseline(p>0.05).(2)The among group analysis: The serum IL-6 showed significant statistical difference between two groups(p<0.01).The serum CRP showed significant statistical difference between two groups(p>0.05).(3)The correlation between the change of serum CRP level and VAS score: The decreased serum CRP were significantly positive correlated with the decrease of the VAS in acupuncture group(p<0.05).Conclusion1.Acupuncture and celecoxib can alleviate the pain and improve the function of knee joint of KOA patients and the effect are similar between two group.The acupuncture can improve the life quality of KOA patients.2.Acupuncture can significantly decrease the CRP level in serum of KOA patients which might be probably one of the important mechanism of acupuncture alleviating pain for KOA.