Randomized Controlled Double Blind Study of Bee Venom Therapy on Rheumatoid Arthritis

무작위 대조 이중맹검 시험을 통한 봉독 약침의 류마티스 관절염 치료 효과 연구

  • Lee, Sang-hoon (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Hong, Seung-jae (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Kim, Su-young (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Yang, Hyung-in (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Jae-dong (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Choi, Do-young (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Doo-ik (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Yun-ho (Research Group of Pain and Neuroscience in Vision 2000 Project East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung-Hee University)
  • 이상훈 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 홍승재 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 김수영 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 양형인 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 이재동 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 최도영 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 이두익 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀) ;
  • 이윤호 (경희대학교 동서의학연구소 경희비젼 2000 통증 및 신경의학연구팀)
  • Received : 2003.09.09
  • Accepted : 2003.09.20
  • Published : 2003.12.20

Abstract

Objective : This study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of bee venom therapy on rheumatoid arthritis by randomized controlled double blind method. Methods : RA patients were recruited and divided into an experiment group and a control group by random selection. As a double blind test, the experiment group was treated with bee venom injection on acupoints, and the control group was treated with normal saline injection on acupoints twice a week for 8 weeks. Tender joint count, swollen joint count, morning stiffness, pain, health assessment questionnaire, ESR, and CRP were estimated and analyzed at baseline, and at 1 month and 2 months after bee venom therapy. Results : Compared to the control group, the experiment group showed significant decrease in tender joint count, swollen joint count, morning stiffness, and health assessment questionnaire after 2 months. Pain, ESR and CRP showed significant decrease in the experiment group after 1 & 2 months. Conclusions : These results suggests that bee venom therapy could be an effective method in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Keywords