Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion and medicinal cake plus sufasalazine （SSZ） on ankylosing spondylitis （AS）. Methods Totally 120 AS patients were randomized into trial group and control group with 60 in each. The control group was administered SSZ tablets

0.75g each time

2 times a day

then increasing by 0.25g every week

till 1.0g each time

2 times a day; the trial group was treated in the same way but given additionally the moxibustion on medicinal cake containing Fuzi （Radix Aconiti Praeparata）

Baijiezi （Semen Sinapis Albae）

and Wuzhuyu （Fructus Evodiae） once everyday. The treatment lasted for 3 months. Before and after treatment

the symptom scores

pillow-wall distance

finger-ground distance

thoracic mobility

erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）

and C- reactive protein （CRP） content of both groups were detected. Results The total effective rate of the trial group and control group was 91.66% and 73.33% respectively

the difference between the two groups was statistically significant （P<0.05）. After treatment

the symptom scores

finger-ground distance

thoracic mobility

ESR

and CRP content of both groups were all improved （P<0.05 or P<0.01）

and the difference between the two groups after treatment was also statistically significant （P<0.05 or P<0.01）

the trial group was better than the control group in effect. Conclusion Medicinal moxibustion plus SSZ is superior to the single use of the latter in improving the joint functions and physicochemical indices of the patients.