针灸治疗痛风性关节炎的作用机制及临床进展
Mechanism and Clinical Progress of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Gouty Arthritis

痛风性关节炎(gout arthritis, GA)为临床常见风湿病之一，近年来GA表现为发病率上升和趋年轻化的形势。目前治疗GA，通常联合使用抗炎镇痛药物及降尿酸药物，长期服用会对人体胃肠道和肝肾功能产生不良反应和毒副作用，且停药后症状易复发。针灸疗法作为临床主流替代疗法，包含毫针刺法、电针法、刺络放血法、火针法、艾灸疗法、温针灸、蜂针疗法以及针刀疗法等多种治疗手段，能有效改善局部微循环、消除组织水肿、缓解炎症性疼痛，具备操作简便、起效迅速、无毒副作用等独特优势，有较高的临床实用价值。其主要作用机制与抑制炎性因子表达、减轻局部炎症反应、降低血尿酸(uric acid, UA)水平、缓解急性期疼痛等相关。现将近年来针灸疗法治疗痛风性关节炎的相关临床研究综述如下。
Gout arthritis (gout arthritis, GA) is one of the common clinical rheumatic diseases. In recent years, GA shows an increasing incidence and younger age. At present, the treatment of GA is usually combined with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs and antiuric acid-lowering drugs. Long- term use will produce adverse reactions and toxic side effects on human gastrointestinal tract and liver and kidney functions, and the symptoms are easy to relapse after drug withdrawal. Acupuncture therapy as the mainstream clinical alternative therapy, including milliacupuncture, electroacupuncture, bloodletting therapy, fire acupuncture, moxibustion therapy, warm acupuncture, bee needle therapy and needle knife, can effectively improve the local microcirculation, eliminate tissue edema, relieve inflammatory pain, have simple operation, effective quickly, non-toxic side effects, such as unique advantages, has a high clinical practical value. The main mechanism of action is related to inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors, reducing the local inflammatory response, reducing the level of blood uric acid (uric acid, UA), and relieving the pain in the acute phase. The relevant clinical studies of acupuncture therapy in the treatment of gout arthritis in recent years are summarized as follows.