Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the effects calcium fructoborate (CFB) and sodium tetraborate (NTB) as supplements in Iraqi patients with active RA maintained on Etanercept. Materials and Methods: A double blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial with 60 days treatment period was carried out at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq. Eighty RA patients were randomized into 3 groups to receive either 220 mg/day calcium fructoborate, 55 mg/day sodium tetraborate in capsule dosage form (equivalent to 6 mg elemental Boron), or placebo formula once daily. Only 72 patients completed the study. All patients were clinically evaluated utilizing DAS28-ESR, SDAI-CRP and CDAI scores at baseline and at the end of the study. Venous blood was obtained at baseline and after 60 days, and utilized for the measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin (Hb), in addition to evaluation of C-reactive protein (hsCRP), TNF-α, interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and IL-6. Results: After 60 days, both types of boron significantly improve the clinical scores, in association with significant decrease in the serum levels of ESR, hsCRP, IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α with remarkable superiority for CFB over NTB, compared to baseline and placebo-treated group. Conclusion: The use of boron, as adjuvant with etanercept, have potentiated therapeutic outcomes in RA patients, and may be a new strategy to improve treatment and avoid the problems associated with biologics utilized in RA treatment.
Key words: Calcium fructoborate, sodium tetraborate, etanercept, rheumatoid arthritis
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