Clinical Observation of 20 Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with a Combined Therapy

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of decoction of herbal medicines combined with Sulfasalazine and Methotrexat in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Methods Seventy patients from the military were randomly divided into 2 groups: the treatment group(n=20) treated with decoction of herbal medicine and Sulfasalazine,the control group(n=20) treated with Methotrexat and Sulfasalazine.Changes of clinical efficacy indexes including lumber pain index,morning stiffness time,peripheral joint pain index,thoracic expression,Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index(BASDAI),Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index(BASFI),the level of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rates(ESR) and C-reactive Protein(CRP),X-ray of sacroiliac joint were observed.Results The clinical efficacy indexes improved significantly after treatment in the 2 groups(P0.05).Lumber pain index,morning stiffness time,peripheral joint pain index were better in the treatment group than in the control group(P0.05),and no significant difference was found in the other indexes between the two groups.The occurrence rate of adverse reaction was lower in the treatment group than in the control group(P0.05).The incidence rate of adverse events was lower in the control group than in the observation group(P0.05).Conclusion Decoction of herbal medicine treatment combined with Sulfasalazine,Methotrexate has better effect on AS with a milder reaction.