To investigate the effects of Duhuo Jisheng decoction combined with acupuncture on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and joint function in patients with rheumatoid knee arthritis.

This study was a prospective study. One hundred and eighty-eight patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated at Hai'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from March 2018 to March 2021 were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 94 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with oral basic drugs and acupuncture, and the observation group was additionally treated with Duhuo Jisheng decoction. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores (pain, swelling, and tenderness), the number of joints with tenderness and swelling, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and peripheral blood ESR and CRP levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

Before treatment, there were no differences in the TCM scores (knee pain, swelling, and tenderness), the number of joints with tenderness and swelling, VAS score, peripheral blood ESR, or CRP levels between the two groups (P＞0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, the TCM scores of knee joint pain (0.35±0.08 vs 0.97±0.26, P＜0.001), swelling (0.41±0.12 vs 1.03±0.28, P＜0.001), and tenderness (0.38±0.10 vs 0.92±0.24, P＜0.001); the number of joints with tenderness joints (5.78±1.09 vs 9.83±1.42, P=0.005) and swelling (4.08±1.35 vs 6.13±1.74, P=0.010); VAS score (2.39±0.46 vs 3.78±0.71, P=0.031); and peripheral blood ESR [(24.27±3.14) mm/h vs (35.42±4.76) mm/h, P=0.016] and CRP levels [(9.83±1.23) mg/L vs (17.49±3.20) mg/L, P＜0.001] of the observation group decreased significantly. The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.62%, which was significantly higher than 74.47% of the control group (P=0.013).

Duhuo Jisheng decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis can significantly relieve the pain, swelling, and tenderness of knee joints, and reduce ESR and CRP levels in peripheral blood, which helps to alleviate the condition of rheumatoid arthritis and promote the recovery of joint function. The therapeutic effect of this combination therapy is better than that of simple acupuncture.