Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Qiangdu Formula（ kidney-supplementing and Governor Vessel-strengthening formula） on the level of Dickkopf1（ DKK1） in patients with ankylosing spondylitis（ AS）.Methods A prospective case-control study was conducted. Totally 45 cases of AS were selected as the AS group and given Bushen Qiangdu Formula one dose daily. The treatment lasted for 6 months. Forty healthy persons were selected as the healthy group. The level of DKK1 was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ ELISA） in both groups. The levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate（ ESR）

C-reactive protein（ CRP）

traditional Chinese medicine（ TCM） syndrome scores

Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index（ BASFI）

Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index（ BASDAI）

finger-floor distance

pulvinar-wall distance

Schober test and thorax activity were detected in the AS group. The adverse reactions were observed in the treatment. Results Before treatment

the level of DKK1 in the AS group was significantly lower than that in the healthy group（ P < 0. 05）. After treatment

the level of DKK1 was significantly increased in the AS group（ P < 0. 05） and there was no significant difference between groups（ P > 0. 05）. The levels of ESR

CRP

TCM syndrome scores

BASFI

BASDAI

finger-floor distance and pulvinar-wall distance were significantly decreased after treatment（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. The levels of Schober test and thorax activity were significantly increased after treatment（ P < 0. 01）. There was no adverse reaction occurring during the treatment. Conclusion The lower level of DKK1 in AS patients causes excessive activation of osteoblast pathway. Bushen Qiangdu Formula is effective and safe for AS. It can increase the level of DKK1 and interfere with new bone formation.