Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture(EA)on treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA)of Shen(肾)-Sui(髓)insufficiency(SSI)syndrome type.Methods:A total of 245 patients(279 knees)of KOA-SSI were randomly assigned to two groups by lottery:141 knees in the treatment group and 138 knees in the control group.The treatment group was managed with EA at the dominant points of Neixiyan(Ex-LE4) and Waixiyan(Ex-LE5)as well as the conjugate points of Xuanzhong(GB39)and Taixi(KI3)for 30 min,once a day,with 15 days as one course;2 courses were applied with a 5-day interval in between.The control group was treated with intra-articular injection of 2 mL hyaluronic acid into the affected joint every 7 days for 5 times in total.The clinical effects on the patients in different stages were observed,and their symptom scores of knee and contents of cytokines,including interleukin-1(IL-1),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), prostaglandin E_(2α)(PGE_(2α)and matrix metalloproteinases-3(MMP-3),in the knee joint fluid were measured before and after treatment.Results:The study was completed in 235 patients(263 knees);four patients(7 knees) in the treatment group and six patients(9 knees)in the control group dropped out.Comparison of therapeutic effects(excellent and effective rates)between the two groups showed insignificant differences(P>0.05). Symptom scores of knee and contents of cytokines in the knee fluid after treatment were lowered significantly in the patients of stageⅠ-Ⅲin both groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01).However,the lowering of the total symptom score of knee in the patients of stageⅢin the treatment group was more significant(P<0.05).Conclusions:EA could effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms in KOA patients of stage 1,showing an effect superior to that of hyaluronic acid.EA also shows action in suppressing the secretion of IL-1,IL-6,TNF-α,PGE_(2α)and MMP-3 in the knee fluid.
