TREATMENT OF JRA WITH BORAGE OIL

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THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (JRA) WITH BORAGE OIL

D Rothman, J Nocton, B Ostrov, B Bloom, J Olson, L Zemel, R Zurier.

Springfield, MA, Worcester, MA.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of borage oil, which

contains the fatty acid gammalinolenic acid, in the treatment of JRA.

The study was double-blind, placebo controlled (safflower oil) of 12

months duration, with either placebo or borage oil for the first 6

months and crossover for the second 6 months. Children had active JRA by

ACR criteria. All children were on at least one concomitant medication.

Borage oil was given at a dose of 40 mg/kg/day BID.

Thirteen children received borage oil first and 15 children received the

placebo first. P- values are based on one-tailed paired t-tests.

Patients had lower (better) scores on borage oil than on placebo for all

outcomes except number of tender joints. This was significant for both

physician's global assessment and the number of joints with active

arthritis. The effect of borage oil was stronger for patients with

polyarticular JRA than for patients with either systemic JRA or

pauciarticular JRA.

No significant adverse effects were reported and the oil was well

tolerated.

ACR Poster Session D: Pediatric Rheumatology II (12:30 PM-2:00 PM)

Presentation Date: Monday, November 15, 1999, Time: 12:30PM, Room: Hall

D