Medication combined with local hyperthermia for the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis

Objective:To study the therapeutic effects of medication combined with local hyperthermia therapy in treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Methods:6 cases of rheumatoid arthritis with unsatisfactory result from routine treatment were enrolled in this study.The patients were treated with routine medication combined with local hyperthermia therapy,which lasts for an hour every other day for 12 times and were followed up to 3 mouths.The measurement of primary outcome was determined by scoring of disease activity.Other outcome measures included the duration of the morning stiffness,numbers of tender and swollen joints,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,C-reaction protein and rheumatoid factor.Results:The above measurements of joints were significantly improved compared with the level before combined therapy,without observable side effects.Conclusion:Medication combined with local hyperthemia is effective and safe in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.