Table 2.
Changes in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) components and DAS 28 scores for the three groups of patients after 10 weeks
| Electro-acupuncture (EA) (n = 12) | Traditional acupuncture (TCA) (n = 12) | Sham Acupuncture (n = 12) | ||||
| Baseline | Week 10 | Baseline | Week 10 | Baseline | Week 10 | |
| Pain (VAS, 0–10) | 6.0 ± 2.1 | 5.7 ± 2.3 | 5.4 ± 2.8 | 5.1 ± 2.9 | 6.5 ± 2.0 | 5.1 ± 1.9 |
| Swollen Joints | 3.0 (0.3–6.0) | 3.5 (1.3–4.0) | 6.5 (4.3–9.8) | 4.0 (2.3–6.8) | 4.0 (2.0–7.8) | 3.5 (1.3–5.0) |
| Tender joints | 9.0 (3.0–13.5) | 3.5 (2.0–9.0)* | 13.0 (8.0–19.0) | 9.0 (4.3–12.5)* | 6.5 (4.0–17.3) | 6.0 (2.0–12.5) |
| Patient's Global (VAS, 0–10) | 6.4 ± 2.2 | 5.8 ± 2.1 | 6.4 ± 2.2 | 5.0 ± 2.4* | 6.8 ± 2.3 | 5.0 ± 2.4* |
| Physician's Global (VAS, 0–10) | 5.3 ± 2.1 | 4.0 ± 2.1* | 6.0 ± 1.8 | 4.7 ± 2.1 | 5.1 ± 2.0 | 4.8 ± 2.3 |
| ESR (mm/hr) | 59 ± 33 | 58 ± 36 | 53 ± 26 | 59 ± 26 | 64 ± 41 | 66 ± 43 |
| CRP (mg/l) | 12.7 (5.6–46.7) | 13.3 (5.6–38.2) | 8.1 (4.3–24.4) | 12.7 (5.1–43.1) | 12.2 (5.0–43.6) | 10.2 (4.9–36.2) |
| HAQ | 1.5 ± 0.7 | 1.3 ± 0.7 | 1.6 ± 0.6 | 1.5 ± 0.7 | 1.4 ± 1.0 | 1.3 ± 0.9 |
| DAS28 | 4.5 ± 1.0 | 4.4 ± 1.0 | 4.8 ± 1.2 | 4.7 ± 1.1 | 4.5 ± 1.3 | 4.4 ± 1.1 |
Data were expressed as mean ± SD or median (IQR). VAS = visual analog scale. ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate. CRP = C-reactive protein. HAQ = health assessment questionnaire. DAS 28 = disease activity score using the 28 joint counts. * p < 0.05 comparing before and after treatment.