The homoeopathic simillimum treatment of acute arthritis in primary gout in terms of the illness intrusiveness scale, blood uric acid levels using the uricase conversion method as well as the acupulse homeostat machine

Abstract

The aim of this placebo-controlled study was to investigate the homoeopathic simillimum treatment of acute arthritis in primary gout in terms of the illness intrusiveness scale, blood uric acid levels using the uricase conversion method as well as the Acupulse Homeostat machine. For this study 30 patients suffering from primary gout were required. The patients were obtained by advertising in local newspapers and at retirement homes. Patients were included in the study if they presented with six of the seven criteria taken from the American Rheumatism Association's criteria for acute arthritis of primary gout. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: a treatment group, receiving homoeopathic simillimum treatment and a control group, receiving a placebo. Two follow-up consultations were scheduled at two week intervals. Data was obtained by means of a questionnaire (completed by the patient), readings from the Acupulse homeostat machine and a blood uric acid test. This data was collected at all three consultations. Data entry and analysis was done using the SPSS statistical package. Due to the small sample size, data obtained from the questionnaire was statistically analyzed using non-parametric methods. The Mann-Whitney Unpaired Test was done to compare the treatment and placebo groups. Results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups. The Wilcoxon's Signed Rank Test was done to compare data within groups. The only significant difference was found within the treatment group between the first and second consultations as well as the first and third consultations. There was significant improvement with regard to active recreation. The tests were performed at a = 5% level of significance. Data obtained from the Acupulse Homeostat machine as well as the blood tests were analyzed using parametric tests because of the fact that they were continuous variables (regardless of the small sample size per group). In the case of both variables, comparison between the treatment and placebo group was made using the Two-Sample Paired T-Test and comparison within groups