[Therapeutic effect and mechanism of silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch in patients with knee osteoarthritis].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: A total of ninety-two patients with KOA were randomly and equally divided into loxoprofen sodium group and silver needle heat conduction therapy + loxoprofen sodium (combination) group, with 46 cases in each group. Patients of the combination group were treated with silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium patch, while those of the loxoprofen sodium group were treated with loxoprofen sodium patch. The treatment was conducted for 4 weeks. The Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), bone metabolism index ［including bone gla protein (BGP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase isomer (TRACP)-5b］, and inflammation factors ［including the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin-1β (IL-1β)］ were observed before and after treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed after the treatment.

Results: After the treatment, the total scores of WOMAC, the levels of serum TRACP-5b, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly decreased (<0.01), while the levels of serum BGP, BALP, and TGF-β were significantly increased (<0.01) in the two groups compared with their own pre-treatment. Silver needle plus loxoprofen sodium was more effective in reducing WOMAC score, TRACP-5b, TNF-α, IL-1β level (<0.01), and up-regulating BGP, BALP, and TGF-β level (<0.01) than loxoprofen. Of the 46 cases in the loxoprofen sodium and combination groups, 33 and 41 were effective, with the effective rate being 71.7% and 89.1%, respectively. The comprehensive therapeutic effect of the combination group was significantly superior to that of the loxoprofen group (<0.05).

Conclusion: Silver needle heat conduction therapy combined with loxoprofen sodium can effectively treat KOA, its mechanism may be related to alleviating inflammation and improving bone metabolism.