[Omeo33] Art 0983 - J Compl Int Med, 2008, 5 (1)

[Gino Santini]

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Juvenile Idiopathic 
Arthritis: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Evidence
Mark Anthony Ferro, Kathy Nixon Speechley

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic condition that 
affects children. Healthcare for JIA is aimed at symptom management 
and as a result, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is 
readily sought. The objective of this manuscript is to provide 
healthcare professionals and researchers with a comprehensive review 
of the prevalence of CAM use in JIA, determinants of use, and 
outcomes associated with various therapies. The implications for 
future clinical practice and promising areas of investigation will be 
discussed. An in-depth search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, 
and Cochrane Library. Programs from relevant conferences were also 
searched. Thirty-eight articles were retrieved and 12 were included 
in the analysis. Eight articles assessed the prevalence of CAM use in 
JIA, three investigated specific interventions (<em>Tripterygium 
wilfordii</em> Hook F, relaxation, massage), and one examined reasons 
for using CAM. Results showed that CAM use is relatively high among 
JIA patients, but prevalence rates vary due to differences in 
methodology and definitions of CAM. Most patients use CAM for pain 
relief. Results from intervention studies are preliminary and should 
be followed with methodologically rigorous studies. Healthcare 
professionals should become familiar with CAM so as to provide 
optimal support and care for children with JIA.

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