Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect and security of Youguitang in treatment of kidney deficiency cold type ankylosing spondylitis

and investigate its possible mechanism. Method: A total 165 cases with kidney deficiency cold type ankylosing spondylitis were randomly divided into the Chinese medicine group

western medicine group and integrated Chinese and western medicine group. The patients in Chinese medicine group (52 case) were treated with Youguitang; the patients in western medicine group (53 case) were treated with Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release tablets; and the patients in integrated Chinese and western medicine group (60 cases) received Youguitang and Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release tablets

with a treatment course of 56 d in all groups. The bath ankylosing spondylitis metroloty index (BASMI)

the bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI)

the bath ankylosing spondylitis irradiation index (BASRI)

and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation scores for kidney deficiency cold type ankylosing spondylitis were observed in three groups before and after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

C-reactive protein (CRP) and parathyroid hormone (PHI) were detected before and after treatment; and the effective rate and incidence of adverse reactions were compared in the 3 groups. Result: The total effective rate was 87.7% in integrated Chinese and western medicine group

better than 76.5% in Chinese medicine group and 73.5% in western medicine group (P<0.05)

with no statistically significant difference between Chinese medicine group and western medicine group. After treatment

the TCM syndrome scores in integrated Chinese and western medicine group and Chinese medicine group were better than those in western medicine group (P<0.05); the improvement in other clinical symptoms scores in integrated Chinese and western medicine group was better than that in Chinese medicine group and western medicine group (P<0.05)

but with no statistically significant difference between Chinese medicine group and western medicine group. In addition

the incidence of adverse reactions in the Chinese medicine group (1.9%)P<0.05). Conclusion: Youguitang treatment had no significant difference with Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release tablets in the efficacy for kidney deficiency cold type ankylosing spondylitis

and the incidence of adverse reactions in Youguitang recipe treatment was lower than that of Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release tablets; the combined use of Youoguitang and Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release tablets had better efficacy than Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release tablets alone in the treatment of kidney deficiency cold type ankylosing spondylitis.