Objective:To observe the clinical effect differences of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)with cold-damp type between electroacupuncture(EA)combined with thunder-fire moxibustion and medication.Methods:A total of 72 cases of KOA patients with cold-damp type were randomly divided into a combined treatment group of EA and thunder-fire moxibustion(combined treatment group)and a medication group,36 cases in each group.In the combined treatment group,the acupoints for EA were Dubi(犊鼻ST35),Neixiyan(内膝眼EX-LE4),Zusanli(足三里ST36),Yanglingquan(阳陵泉GB34),Yinlingquan(阴陵泉SP9),Xuehai(血海SP10),Liangqiu(梁丘ST34)and Heding(鹤顶EX-LE2).During the period of EA,the suspending thunder-fire moxibustion was applied to Shenque CV8)and Guanyuan(关元CV4).In the medication group,diclofenac sodium double release intestine-sol capsule and Fugui gutong capsules were prescribed for oral administration.The treatment for 14 days was taken as one course and the consecutive 2 courses of treatment were required in each group.Before and after treatment,as well as in the follow-up visit,the pain score(visual analogue scale,VAS),the knee function score(Western Ontario and McMaster University,WOMAC,the expressions of interleukin 6(IL-6)and transforming growth factorβ1(TGF-β1)in the joint fluid as well as the difference in the clinical therapeutic effect were observed in the two groups separately.Results:(1)The pain score:compared with those before treatment,the VAS scores were all reduced after treatment and in the follow-up in the two groups(all P<0.05).After treatment and in the follow-up,VAS scores in the combined treatment group were lower than those in the medication group(both P<0.05).(2)The knee function score:WOMAC score of each item,i.e.pain,stiffness and function,as well as the total score after treatment and the follow-up were all lower than those before treatment in the patients of the two groups(all P<0.05).The score of each item,i.e.pain and function,as well as the total score in the combined treatment group we
