TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH THE LOW-INTENSITY MILLIMETER-WAVELENGTH ELECTROMAGNETIC STIMULATION AND THE ROLE OF THE BI-DIGITAL O-RING TEST

During the last decades, scientific evidence supporting application of the millimeter-wave electromagnetic therapy (MWEMT) as a method of regulation treatment and improvement of the body resistance has accumulated. Systematic analysis of its basic mechanisms has been made in animal models [ 1 - 3 ]. Experimental data obtained confirmed the numerous clinical observations concerning effectiveness of MWEMT in case of various hypersensitive conditions including pain syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and general safety of electromagnetic millimeter waves, applied to acupuncture points in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 12 patients with RA were enrolled in the randomised double-blind clinical trial according to following inclusion criteria: 1) RA history ranged 1-1 0 years; 2) patients without extra-articular features of RA; 3) only non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) medication on demand. RA diagnosis was made according to the revised classification by American College of Rheumatology [ 4 ]. After the admission to the in-patient rheumatological department and initial evaluation including clinical and laboratory tests, the patients were randomized to receive MWEMT. All patients had previously been treated with oral NSAIDs and continued their pain relief medication on demand at the time of MWEMT. Acupuncture points, painful on palpation and situated around the affected joints, were exposed to the low-intensity millimeter-wavelength electromagnetic radiation. As the source of electromagnetic millimeter waves we used serial generator DD 21-10, manufactured by MMT Ltd. in Kiev/Ukraine for medical purposes. This device produces electromagnetic waves with frequency 54-64 GHz and power 2.5 mW. 4 acupoints (2 symmetrical pairs) were consecutively exposed to electromagnetic radiation during one session. The exposure time for each acupoint consisted of 10 minutes (thus the total exposure time of 4 acupoints during one session consisted of 40 minutes). The total number of sessions ranged from 5 to 9 (median 7) during 2 weeks. According to the study design, group 1 received only real MWEMT sessions, group 2 only sham MWEMT procedure. Group 3 was exposed to electromagnetic radiation in a random cross-over manner. Following records were made before, during and immediately after the treatment: Pain intensity according to a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10 (NRS-11), ranged from 0=no pain to 10=worst imaginable pain. Duration of joint stiffness on waking up in the morning according to 5-point numerical rating scale (NRS-5): 0=no stiffness, 1=stiffness till 09:00, 2=till 12:00, 3=till 16:00 and 4=joint stiffness through the whole day. Laboratory findings, including complete blood cell count (with white blood cell differential and platelet counts), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Patients from group 1, who received only real MWEMT sessions, reported pain relief and reduced joint stiffness during and after the course of therapy. They showed pain relief and reduction of joint stiffness already after the first session. All of them also reported slight paresthesia at acupuncture points and respective limbs along the meridians, exposed to electromagnetic radiation during the sessions. Patients of group 2 received only sham procedure and revealed no improvement during and after the study. No patient reported paresthesia at sham exposed acupuncture points. Group 3 (also 4 patients) was exposed to electromagnetic radiation in a random cross-over manner and reported pain and joint stiffness reduction in direct dependence with real MWEMT sessions. Monitored laboratory parameters: blood cell count, ESR and CRP did not change significantly after the treatment course in comparison to baseline. Our randomized double blind study showed impressive therapeutic responses with decreased pain intensity as well as reduced joint stiffness. The most common therapeutic property of MWEMT reported in previous studies for treatment of various conditions was the relief of concomitant pain [ 5 , 6 ]. Our observation, that pain intensity decreased already after the 1 st session of MWEMT, overall confirms that statement. We used wide band of MW frequency 54-64 GHz, since all non-thermal biomedical effects of MW were obtained within this band [ 7 ]. According to results of our experimental investigations, a frequency optimum lies around 61 GHz and analgesic action is more prominent in 10 minutes of acupoint stimulation [ 2 ]. Most beneficial effects have been observed when minimal intensity of electromagnetic stimulation was applied. The modem device for MWEMT works at the very low-energy level to avoid undesirable electromagnetic influences (in the former Soviet Union the most strict standard of 0.01mW/cm 2 for 8 hours or 0.1m W/cm 2 or 1 mW/cm 2 for 20 minutes a day was established). As regards, power of the low-energy electromagnetic stimulation is of no particular significance from the information point of view. However, results obtained with the aid of the Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (Y. Omura, 1977-2004) showed an existence of the individual energy thresholds for bioresonant state which can fluctuate considerably: from 10 -4 to 10 -8 mW/cm 2 for different individuals and different days of investigation for the same patient. Its magnitude under circumstances of the synchronizing information signal may depend on the specific molecular mechanisms of interaction between an external field and cellular oscillators, the modulation and time parameters of electromagnetic fields, the noise level in the biological system as well as difference in frequencies between the synchronizing and synchronized oscillators. Energy thresholds tend to diminish in case of the favorable combination for these factors. Besides, energy thresholds are influenced by the space parameters of electromagnetic stimulation that is now understood as precise coordinates of acupoints. The slight displacement of electromagnetic stimulation from the necessary acupoint facilitates a sharp rise of the threshold for each patient. This study indicates that MWEMT applied to acupoints in patients with RA is effective in the short-term pain and joint stiffness reduction. Application of the BDORT provides the necessary individualization of regimes and parameters for MWEMT with objective evaluation of its effects. After further large-scale clinical investigations, MWEMT may become a non-invasive adjunct in therapy of patients with RA.