Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture on the Acute Attack of Gouty Arthritis

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the acute attack of gouty arthritis. Methods Sixty patients with acute attack of gouty arthritis were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups. The treatment group of 40 cases received acupuncture and the control group of 20 cases took medicine. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated in the two groups. Serum uric acid was measured before and after treatment. Results The efficacy rate was 100% in the treatment group and 84.5% in the control group. Serum uric acid decreased more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference in therapeutic effect between the two groups (P0.01). The analgesic, detumescent and serum uric acid-reducing effects were all significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (P0.01). Conclusion Acupuncture has a marked therapeutic effect on the acute attack of gouty arthritis and is also an effective way to regulate serum uric acid in the body.