Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the rehabilitation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and level of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Methods 140 cases of RA meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into control group and observation group equally according to therapeutic schemes. All the patients accepted medicine and rehabilitation training, while the observation group accepted electroacupuncture in addition. The effective rate and the symptoms were observed, the serum level of rheumatoid factor (RF), antistreptolysin O antibody (ASO), C-reactive protein (CRP), NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β were tested before and after treatment. Results The effective rate was 92.8% in the observation group, which was significantly more than that of 80.0% in the control group (P<0.05). The joint pain index, joint tenderness index and joint swollenness index reduced in the observation group compared with those in the control group (P<0.05), as well as the serum level of RF, ASO, CRP, NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β (P< 0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture may improve the effects of rehabilitation training for RA and inhibit the inflammation, which may associate with the inhibition of activation of NF-κB.

Key words: rheumatoid arthritis, electroacupuncture, rehabilitation, nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1β