Bee venom acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the clinical evidence for bee venom acupuncture (BVA) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design

Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Setting

We searched 14 databases up to March 2014 without a language restriction.

Participants

Patients with RA.

Intervention

BVA involved injecting purified, diluted BV into acupoints. We included trials on BVA used alone or in combination with a conventional therapy versus the conventional therapy alone.

Primary outcomes

Morning stiffness, pain and joint swelling

Secondary outcomes

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor, the number of joints affected by RA and adverse effects likely related to RA.

Results

A total of 304 po

SUBMITTER: Lee JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4225238 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature