Objective To observe the efficacy of the combined treatment with acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion on ankylosing spondylitis（AS） at early-middle stage and investigate the effect on bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint.Methods Seventy patients of AS at early-middle stage were randomized into an observation group（35 cases） and a control group（35 cases

1 case dropped off）.In the control group

the recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-antibody of type Ⅱ fusion protein for injection was injected subcutaneously

25 mg each time

once on every Monday and Friday

consecutively for 3 weeks.In the observation group

on the base of the intervention as the control group

acupuncture combined with governor vessel moxibustion were provided.Acupuncture was applied to Dazhui（GV 14）

Changqiang（GV 1）

Zhibian（BL 54）

Baihui（GV 20）

etc.;the thermal needling technique was adopted at Dazhui（GV 4） and Changqiang（GV 1） for promoting the circulation of the governor vessel

and the ginger-isolated moxibustion on the governor vessel was combined.Such intervention measure was provided once daily.One treatment session contained 7 treatments and 3 sessions were required.Before and after treatment

the scores of Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada（SPARCC）

Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index（BASDAI） and Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index（BASFI） and Bath ankylosing spondylitis patient global score（BAS-G） were observed in the two groups separately.The efficacy and adverse effects were assessed in the two groups after treatment.Results The scores of SPARCC

BASDAI

BASFI and BAS-G were all reduced after treatment compared with those before treatment in the two groups（P<0.05）

and those in the observation group were lower than the control group（P<0.05）.The total effective rate was 97.1%（34/35） in the observation group

higher than 82.4%（28/34） in the control group（P<0.05）.There were 4 cases of gastrointestinal reactions and 1 case of skin rashes in the control group;and 3 cases of local skin redness and pruritus after governor vessel moxibustion

no any drug adverse effect was found in the observation group.Conclusion Based on the western medicine treatment

the combined therapy of acupuncture and governor vessel moxibustion may relieve bone marrow edema of sacroiliac joint in patients with AS at early-middle stage

control the progression of disease and improve the daily life activity.This therapy is relatively safe and effective.