Successful Treatment of Raynaud's Syndrome with Prostacyclin

Summary

There is evidence to suggest that platelet activation occurs in Raynaud’s syndrome. We evaluated the effect of prostacyclin (PGI₂) a potent antiplatelet and vasodilator agent in 5 female patients with Raynaud’s syndrome. Outpatient visits were made at weekly intervals for 4 weeks. At the first visit buffer solution (Wellcome Laboratories) was infused intravenously for 5 hrs, thereafter three five hr infusions of PGI₂ at a peak dose of 10 ng/ Kg/min were given. Six weeks after the infusions patients were reviewed. Symptomatic improvement, including healing of ischaemic ulcers, occurred in 4 out of 5 patients. Thermography confirmed an increase in hand temperature after PCI₂. Subjective and objective improvement has persisted for at least 6 weeks after the last treatment.

Keywords

Raynaud’s syndrome - Prostacyclin - Thermography in Raynaud’s syndrome

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