Effect of individualized homeopathic medicine on costochondritis in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis: A case report

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory rheumatic disorder with predominant involvement of the axial skeleton and frequent extra-articular manifestations including costochondritis. This case report presents a 42-year-old female patient with long-standing HLA-B27 positive AS complicated by persistent costochondritis unresponsive to NSAIDs. Individualized homeopathic treatment, guided by detailed symptomatic totality and miasmatic analysis, was administered using remedies selected from Kent’s repertory, initially Ranunculus bulbosus, followed by Rhus toxicodendron. Clinical assessments using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Schober test demonstrated significant symptomatic and functional improvement over one month of treatment. While this case illustrates a potentially beneficial adjunctive role for individualized homeopathy in managing complex AS manifestations, limitations inherent to single case reports necessitate further rigorous controlled studies to validate efficacy and clarify its role in integrated care.