Retrospective comparison of iloprost with other treatments for secondary Raynaud's phenomenon

Article Abstract:

Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition in which the blood vessels in the hands and feet spasm and become narrow so that blood flow to the fingers and toes is reduced. This can cause the extremities to become cold and turn blue, and it can cause the skin to die (gangrene). The phenomenon can occur in patients with other types of blood vessel and connective tissue diseases such as thrombosis (abnormal formation of blood clots) and systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients with Raynaud's phenomenon are treated with drugs that open the blood vessels in order to increase the flow of blood in the fingers and toes. Examples of these vasodilating drugs include nifedipine, prostacyclin, gamolenic acid, inositol nicotinate, and ketanserin. Nifedipine is considered to be the most effective drug for treating patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Another drug, iloprost, has been tested in clinical drug trials and shown to be as effective as nifedipine in treating patients with this condition. However, not all patients with this condition respond to drug treatment. Some of the patients respond to treatment with one drug, while others respond to treatment with a different drug. Therefore, a study was performed to determine if iloprost is effective in treating Raynaud's phenomenon in patients who respond to treatment with nifedipine and in patients who have not responded treatment with other drugs. The medical records of 84 patients who had received a total of 165 different drug treatments were reviewed. Fifty-eight percent of the patients were treated successfully with iloprost. Fifty percent of the patients who had not responded to other forms of drug treatment were treated successfully with iloprost, and 47 percent of the patients who did not respond to treatment with nifedipine were treated successfully with iloprost. Only 11 (31 percent) of the patients who had been treated successfully with other drugs did not respond to treatment with iloprost. It is concluded that iloprost is an effective treatment for patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and that it may be effective in treating patients who do not respond treatment with other drugs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Reports, Clinical trials, Raynaud's disease, Nifedipine

---

Postural changes, dysphagia, and systemic sclerosis

Article Abstract:

A 61-year-old man developed fatigue, difficulty eating, weight loss, and difficulty keeping his head up three years after a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune connective tissue disease. He was taking D-penicillamine (D-Pen) to control the skin changes of SSc, which can cause muscle disease in some patients. D-Pen was discontinued and the patient began taking methotrexate and prednisone, after which many of his symptoms resolved. D-Pen can cause muscle inflammation, excessive urinary protein excretion, and other symptoms by an autoimmune process.

Causes of, Complications and side effects, Muscles, Systemic scleroderma, Scleroderma (Disease), Muscle diseases, Muscular diseases, Penicillamine

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: A controlled study of stanozolol in primary Raynaud's phenomenon and systemic sclerosis. 5-Fluorouracil in the treatment of scleroderma: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled international collaborative study
• Abstracts: A controlled study of the effect of therapies aimed at adolescent and family psychopathology in anorexia nervosa
• Abstracts: Reported practices of pediatric residents in the management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. part 2
• Abstracts: Behavioral contributions to acquisition of gonorrhea in patients attending an inner city sexually transmitted disease clinic. part 2
• Abstracts: Effects of recombinant soluble CD4 (rCD4) on HIV-1 infection of monocyte/macrophages. part 2 Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication by the dipyridodiazepinone BI-RG-587

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.