Using the complex network technology

the characteristics of the core acupoint prescriptions and the application of acupuncture-moxibustion techniques were analyzed in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis（RA） so as to provide the evidences for acupoint selection and therapeutic methods for RA treated with acupuncture and moxibustion. The articles of acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of RA in recent 20 years were collated and imported

and the database of the acupoint prescriptions was developed. Using Cytoscape 3.9.2 software

the acupoints in the prescriptions were visualized for the common occurrence network analysis. The association rule analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 software and the complex network analysis was by Gephi 0.9.2 software. A total of 798 articles were screened

in which

3 258prescriptions were extracted with 253 acupoints involved. The analysis of acupoint selection was conducted in terms of syndrome/pattern differentiation

acupoint locations and main acupoints

and therapeutic methods. The results showed that the most common TCM syndromes of RA included painful bi syndrome

wandering bi syndrome

fixed bi syndrome and bi syndrome due to wind

damp and heat. Regarding the core combination of acupoints

painful bi syndrome: Guanyuan（CV 4）and Shenshu（BL 23）; fixed bi syndrome: Yinlingquan（SP 9）

Sanyinjiao（SP 6）

Zusanli（ST 36）

Pishu（BL 20） and Fenglong（ST 40）; wandering bi syndrome: Fengchi（GB 20）

Geshu（BL 17）

Fengmen（BL 12）

Xuehai（SP 10） and Waiguan（TE 5）; bi syndrome due to wind

damp and heat: Dazhui（GV 14）

Quchi（LI 11） and Hegu（LI 4）. Regarding the acupoint locations

the acupoints located in the upper limbs

lower limbs and spinal region were generally selected. Quchi（LI 11） was one of the main acupoints in prescriptions with the highest use frequency. Zusanli（ST 36） and Shenshu（BL 23） presented the highest co-occurrence intensity

while Zusanli（ST 36） and Quchi（LI 11） indicated the highest correlation. The treatment of acupuncture-moxibustion for RA is generally complied with the principle as "the synthesis of main acupoints

supplementary acupoints in local affected area and those based on syndrome differentiation". Warm needling and the combination of acupuncture and herbal medication are the most common therapeutic methods for RA.