Effect of Moxibustion on the Serum Levels of MMP-1, MMP-3, and VEGF in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 3

Changes of contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, MMP-1, MMP-3, and VEGF.

Outcome measures	Treatment group (n = 34)	Control group (n = 32)	value
IL-1β (pg/mL)
Baseline	30.75 (16.31)	33.52 (16.34)	0.493^†
Posttherapy	21.75 (10.61)	28.56 (15.69)	0.042^†
TNF-α (pg/mL)
Baseline	27.66 (14.12)	20.60 (12.09)	0.204^†
Posttherapy	32.43 (16.01)	27.07 (13.41)	0.043^†
MMP-1 (pg/mL)
Baseline	2.85 (1.68)	3.69 (2.11)	0.076^†
Posttherapy	2.38 (1.36)	3.39 (1.72)	0.010^†
MMP-3 (pg/mL)
Baseline	141.40 (77.16)	160.11 (61.98)	0.283^†
Posttherapy	120.77 (64.52)	152.18 (58.00)	0.042^†
VEGF (pg/mL)
Baseline	87.43 (47.65)	109.84 (55.74)	0.083^†
Posttherapy	66.27 (33.46)	91.18 (47.49)	0.016^†

Values are represented as mean (SD). ^† value by independent samples t test.