title: [Raynaud's phenomenon and calcium blocking agents. A preliminary open study with flunarizine].
abstract: Raynaud's phenomenon (Raynaud's disease), an accessual vascular acrosyndrome characterised by an important constriction of distal arterioles, has still no specific pharmacological therapy. In the last years, the use of calcium-entry-blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, nicardipine), drugs able to control the contractility of the vessels, showed some positive results. Considering this data, we appraised the efficacy of flunarizine, another calcium-entry-blocker, in a preliminary study of 28 patients (23 females, 5 males, aged between 15 and 48 years) suffering from Raynaud's disease. Apart from a statistically insignificant improvement of subjective symptoms (i.e. acroparesthesias, cold extremities) flunarizine (10 mg/day for 1 month) did not have positive results. Finally, this drug caused some side-effects: drowsiness, increase of weight and appetite, but without a real necessity for withdrawal of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica I, Università degli Studi di Bari.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Centonze
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanale
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caporaletti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Magrone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Bari
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loragno
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Albano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005444:Flunarizine
vernacular_title: Fenomeno di Raynaud e farmaci calcio-antagonisti. Studio preliminare in aperto con flunarizina.