Bee venom acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical evidence for bee venom acupuncture (BVA) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).


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


METHODS
Patients with RA.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Morning stiffness, pain and joint swelling


RESULTS
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 potentially relevant studies were identified; only one RCT met our inclusion criteria. Compared with placebo, BVA may more effectively improve joint pain, swollen joint counts, tender joint counts, ESR and CRP but was not shown to improve morning stiffness.


CONCLUSIONS
There is low-quality evidence, based on one trial, that BVA can significantly reduce pain, morning stiffness, tender joint counts, swollen joint counts and improve the quality of life of patients with RA compared with placebo (normal saline injection) control. However, the number of trials, their quality and the total sample size were too low to draw firm conclusions.


BACKGROUND
PROSPERO 2013: CRD42013005853.
Medical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
Ju Ah
JA
Lee
Medical Culture & Informatics Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
Mi Ju
MJ
Son
Medical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
Jiae
J
Choi
Medical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
Ji Hee
JH
Jun
Division of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
Jong-In
JI
Kim
Medical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
Myeong Soo
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0987-9093
MS
Lee
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D001514:Bee Venoms
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE