Abstract
BackgroundJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is common and difficult to treat. Cannabidiol (CBD) is now widely available, but no studies to date have investigated the use of CBD for JIA.MethodsWe performed a chart review to identify patients with JIA at a Midwestern medical institution between 2017 and 2019. We surveyed primary caregivers of JIA patients using an anonymous, online survey with questions on caregiver knowledge and attitudes towards CBD. We compared respondents with no interest in CBD use vs. those contemplating or currently using CBD using descriptive statistics.ResultsOf 900 reviewed charts, 422 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 236 consented to be sent a survey link, and n=136 (58%) completed surveys. Overall, 34.5% (n=47) of respondents reported no interest in using a CBD product for their child’s JIA, while 54% (n=79) reported contemplating using CBD and 7% (n=10) reported currently giving their child CBD. Only 2% of respondents contemplating or actively using a CBD product learned about CBD from their child’s rheumatologist, compared with television (70%) or a friend (50%). Most respondents had not talked to their child’s rheumatologist about using CBD. Of those currently using CBD, most used oral or topical products, and only 10% of respondents (n=1) knew what dose they were giving their child.ConclusionsOur results show infrequent use but a large interest in CBD among caregivers of children with JIA. Given CBD’s unknown safety profile in children with JIA, this study highlights a need for better studies and education around CBD for pediatric rheumatologists.
Highlights
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is common and difficult to treat
With the exception of Epidiolex, which is approved for the treatment of the rare seizure disorders Lennox Gastaut and Dravet Syndrome, CBD is minimally regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [16, 17]
Parents or guardians of patients were invited to participate in the study if the patient was younger than 18 years of age at the time of survey, had a diagnosis of JIA, had more than 1 visit to Pediatric Rheumatology clinic, and had been evaluated by a Pediatric Rheumatologist within the last 18 months
Summary
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is common and difficult to treat. Cannabidiol (CBD) is widely available, but no studies to date have investigated the use of CBD for JIA. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of chronic arthritis in children, affecting 1 in 1000 children. Effective treatments for JIA include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biologic agents, but each. One such CIM treatment gaining popularity in the past years is cannabidiol (CBD), which is derived from Cannabis sativa. CBD is non-intoxicating and Failing et al Pediatric Rheumatology (2021) 19:171 has been widely advertised as a safe and natural therapy for many ailments including chronic pain, arthritis, other inflammatory diseases, and mental health conditions, resulting in frequent use for these conditions [12, 13]. With the exception of these rare seizure disorders, evidence of a therapeutic benefit of CBD for pediatric conditions is lacking [18]
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