DMARDs combined with acupuncture therapy to treat RA: study of effects on dsDNA/NETs level and mechanism analysis

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of DMARDs combined with acupuncture therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods: A total of 200 RA patients were equally divided into Group A (GA, n=100, DMARDs combined with acupuncture therapy) and Group B (GB, n=100, DMARDs) by a Random Number Table. Joint swelling and pain, DAS28 score and dsDNA/NETs levels were compared between the two groups. Results: At the 4th and the 8th weeks of treatment, GA yielded better indices for symptoms and signs, lower ESR, RF, CRP and dsDNA/NETs levels in comparison with the GB (P<0.05). At the 8th week, the two groups were statistically different in the number of patients with joint function at Levels I, II and IV (P<0.05) but not in the incidence of adverse reactions which was 7.00% for GA and 9.00% for GB (P>0.05). As compared with GB at the 8th week of treatment, the proportion of GA patients with disease activity (DA) in remission or low activity stages was higher, and fewer patients were in the moderate or high activity stages (P<0.05). Conclusion: RA patients greatly benefited from DMARDs and acupuncture therapy, including significantly mitigated clinical symptoms, improved DAS 28 scores and better controlled dsDNA/NETs levels.