title: Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with prostaglandin E1 precursors cis-linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid.
abstract: 20 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were treated for 12 weeks with the prostaglandin E1 precursors cis-linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid in the form of primrose evening oil (Efamol) and the co-factors zinc, ascorbic acid, niacin, and pyridoxin (Efavit). There was a slight fall in skin reactivity to UV light during the treatment, but no effect on plasma or urine concentrations of PGE1, cAMP or cGMP. There was no effect of the treatment on ESR, P-fibrinogen, number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, the duration of morning stiffness, or on the patient's estimation of pain.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031665:Oenothera biennis; D010938:Plant Oils; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000378:metabolism; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012867:Skin; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015032:Zinc / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D010938:Plant Oils; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D009525:Niacin; C028498:evening primrose oil; D017965:gamma-Linolenic Acid; C038070:efavit; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D015032:Zinc; D011736:Pyridoxine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid