title: Intermittent epoprostenol (prostacyclin) infusion in patients with Raynaud's syndrome. A double-blind controlled trial.
abstract: Two groups of outpatients (7 in each group) with Raynaud's syndrome, matched for severity of illness, were randomly allocated to receive at weekly intervals for three weeks either a 5 h intravenous infusion of buffer or epoprostenol (prostacyclin, PGI2) in buffer (7.5 ng/kg/min after the first hour). PGI2 reduced the frequency and duration of ischaemic attacks (both p less than 0.01). Hand temperature measurements with a thermocouple were significantly improved at 1 week; 6 weeks after the last infusion hand temperatures had returned to baseline. There was a corresponding loss of clinical response 8-10 weeks after the last infusion.
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D012881:Skin Temperature
chemical_list: D011453:Prostaglandins; D011464:Epoprostenol