[Use of conventional and unconventional therapies among patients with ankylosing spondylitis]. / Häufigkeit der Anwendung konventioneller und unkonventioneller Therapiemassnahmen bei Patienten mit Morbus Bechterew.

OBJECTIVE: A large share of rheumatism patients who are treated by rheumatologists use unconventional therapies additionally. What is the frequency in patients with ankylosing spondylitis who present for treatment at a radon spa? PATIENTS: 75 patients with ankylosing spondylitis presenting for treatment at the Gasteiner Heilstollen Hospital agreed to participate in the study (6 refused). DESIGN: In an open interview a research assistant asked the patients to name all interventions which they have used for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. RESULTS: Unconventional therapies (beside treatment at the Gasteiner Heilstollen) were used by 39 patients. Most frequently cited were acupuncture (15x), diet (8x), herbal therapy (7x), and homeopathy (6x). In total 40 different forms of unconventional therapies were mentioned. All patients claimed to have used at least two conventional therapies. CONCLUSION: Patients presenting for treatment at a radon spa claim to have used conventional therapies more frequently than unconventional forms of treatment.

Complementary and alternative medicines in ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional study.

Prevalence of dietary complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and consultation with a CAM practitioner was examined in a cross-sectional study of 75 AS patients. Seventy one of 75 (94.7%) study participants reported previous or current CAM use. Among these AS patients, 44 (72.1%) reported dietary CAM use and 27 (36.0%) were seeing a CAM practitioner at the time of study. Of 89 dietary CAM, 50 (56.4%) were perceived to be of slight or no benefit, and only 10 (11.2%) were initiated by a CAM practitioner. Compared with non-users, current dietary CAM users were more likely to be female (OR 6.5; 95% CI, 1.8-23.9). Patients attending a CAM practitioner were more likely to have university education (OR 5.7; 95% CI, 1.5-21.9) and higher BASDAI (OR 1.3; 95%CI, 1.0-1.7). Despite low rates of perceived benefit, dietary CAM use and CAM practitioner attendance is common among AS patients.

[Effectiveness of Formica rufa and autologous blood injection in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a double-blind randomized study]. / Wirksamkeit von Formica rufa und Eigenblut-Injektionen bei Patienten mit ankylosierender Spondylitis: eine doppelblinde, randomisierte Studie.

While complementary medicine and homeopathy is becoming an increasingly prominent part of the health care practices, there is a lack of controlled studies concerning their effectiveness. In our study, we wanted to answer the question whether a combination of Formica rufa D6 and reinjection of the patient's own blood is superior to injection of placebo. 104 patients with ankylosing spondylitis entered a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. During four weeks they received twice weekly either 1 ml of Formica rufa D6 in combination with 0.5 ml of blood or 1.5 ml NaCl intramuscular. Before and after therapy, mobility, thoracic excursion and doctor's overall assessment were measured in addition to patient's health status, using a German version of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales, before and after therapy as well as four, twelve, and twenty-four weeks later. We were not able to detect any statistical difference between treatment and placebo group in any of the parameters measured. Therefore, the therapy under study may not be regarded effective.

Indications homeopathiques dans les rhumatismes inflamatoires chroniques / Homeopathic indications in cronic inflammatory rheumatism

L'homeopathie permet d'esperer des resultats positifs dans la polyarthrite rhumatoide et la pelvispondylite rhumatismale. Apres un expose des dernieres acquisitions pathogeniques de ces affections, l'auteur etudie les principaus medicaments homeopathiques correspondants et les possibilites de l'isotherapie serique

La espondiloartritis anquilosante / The spondiloartritis

These by allopathy incurable patients can systematically and permanently recover of this disease and all of their symptoms by an appropriate homeopathic cure. The treatment of this cronic diseases must follow the aplication of the following principles: constant research of the simillimum remedy of each patient; measures of desintoxication (life-hygiene, antidotes, punctual organotherapy); use of the most advanced knowledge with their application in a biogenetic similitude; respect of the rules of complementarity of the homeopathic remedies; measures of moderation of the homeopathic aggravation; sequential therapy (sequence of the fundamental nosodes).(AU)

A propos d'une extension du principe de similitude / Extending the similitude principle

Des travaux anterieurs, tels que ceux de Bildet et Demarque sur l'hepatite toxique au tetrach-lorure de carbone traitee par Phosphorus (AnnalesHomeopathiques Francaises 1975, 4) ont deja implicitement aborde ce sujet puisque dans ce cas-ci la similitude biologique et anatomo-pathologique entre les lesions causees par ces deux produits etait mise a profit pour une therapeutique en loi des semblables. Le present article montre que le principe de similitude peut etre etendu a d'autres aspects et la meilleure demonstration de la realite de cette assimilation reside dans l'efficacite clinique qui en decoule