title: Digital pressure and flow measurement upon local cooling in Raynaud's disease. Effect of naftidrofuryl.
abstract: Two local cold provocation tests were carried out in 25 healthy volunteers and in 14 patients with Raynaud's disease, using finger systolic pressure (FSP) and digital blood flow measurements. Mean FSP was significantly lower in Raynaud's patients compared to healthy volunteers at 15 degrees C and 10 degrees C (cuff temperature). Maximal digital flow (at skin temperature of 38 degrees C) was slightly though not significantly lower in Raynaud's patients as compared to normals (27 +/- 3 versus 36 +/- 4 ml/100 ml/min). Upon cooling, statistical significance was reached starting from finger skin temperature of 24 degrees C. Overlap between the two groups was considerable but only 1 out of 13 patients with Raynaud's disease had both tests normal. Ten of the patients participated in a double-blind cross-over trial with naftidrofuryl (200 mg t.i.d.) versus placebo. Significant (p less than 0.05) subjective improvement was noted after 6 weeks with naftidrofuryl but this was not necessarily substantiated by an increased digital flow or pressure in the test situation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009257:Nafronyl / Q000494:pharmacology; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012881:Skin Temperature
chemical_list: D009257:Nafronyl