Author(s)

Shengrong Zou

College of Information Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic autoimmune joint disease. The etiology of RA is complex, and then it is impossible to cure completely today and it should be individualized treatment. Immune system is complex. Existing statistical techniques based on reductionism cannot discover many relevant disease risk factors and complex interaction relationship. The disease network model based on complex network is important for the analysis and treatment of RA disease. In this Review, we have found five important layers of RA complex network and presented five balances regulating strategy in the management of RA. We have followed up one RA patient (wife of the author) for one year using this strategy, and the management effect is good. This Review argues RA is self-limiting to some extent, and good management with five balances regulating strategy would have positive significance, among which the balance between neuroendocrine system and immune system is the most important. During the day, glucocorticoid plays an important role in con-trolling inflammation, and human growth hormone plays an important role in eliminating inflammation during the slow-wave sleep at night. Five balances core concepts can shed light on the management of other causes of arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Autoimmune Diseases, Complex Network, Balance, Network Medicine

Zou, S. (2017) Five Balances in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 5, 10-21. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2017.59002.