Abstract

Ten patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) were treated with n-6 essential fatty acids (EFA), in the form of evening primrose oil (Efamol), 8 g daily for 8 weeks, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study design, in order to evaluate possible changes in EFA levels in plasma and erythrocyte membranes. Compared with earlier studies in healthy persons, the levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid in erythrocyte membranes were found decreased in the WG patients. During the Efamol treatment levels of myristic acid in plasma phospholipids increased, stearic acid in plasma phospholipids decreased, oleic acid in plasma phospholipids, and cholesterol esters decreased. cis-linoleic acid in plasma triglycerides increased, gamma-linolenic acid in plasma cholesterol esters increased, and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid in erythrocyte and plasma phospholipids as well as in plasma cholesterol esters increased. Clinical improvement was not detected, as the patients were all examined in a period of drug-induced disease remission. Further studies must clarify whether treatment with Efamol is of any clinical benefit in patients with active WG or WG off immunosuppressive treatment.