[Nonconventional therapy in a case of systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]

We report a systematic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in an adolescent girl inadequately controlled by a prolonged course of conventional therapy. After ACTH in combination with elevated dosages of intravenous ascorbic acid therapy she rapidly improved, becoming afebrile. A complete clinical remission one month later was obtained, with no recurrences of the disease in five years followup. The excellent response to ACTH and ascorbic acid in our patient, suggests that a controlled trial of this therapy in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis should be considered.