title: Suppressive effect of saprogrelate hydrochloride on Raynaud's phenomenon and respiratory failure in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In seven patients with systemic sclerosis (SS), we evaluated the clinical effectiveness of oral administration of saprogrelate hydrochloride (SH: 300 mg/day) for 2 months on Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and respiratory failure estimated by Hugh-Jones classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated laboratory data (arterial blood gas (pH, PaO2 and PaCO2), pulmonary function tests (%VC, FEV1/FVC and %DL(CO)), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), white blood cell count, C-reactive protein and the plasma levels of fibrinopeptide A (FPA), beta-thrombogloblin (beta-TG), platelet factor 4 (PF4) and thrombomodulin (TM)) before and after SH administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency and duration of RP, as well as the coldness, numbness and pain of RP were significantly decreased after SH administration (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). Respiratory failure estimated by Hugh-Jones classification was also significantly decreased after SH administration (P < 0.05), and the %DL(CO) was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The mPAP decreased significantly after SH administration (P < 0.05). Plasma FPA, beta-TG and PF4 significantly decreased after administration (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SH therapy could prevent RP and respiratory failure in patients with SS.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Dokkyo University School of Medicine Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kishiro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohnuma
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000032:analysis; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D018180:Thrombomodulin; D001620:beta-Thromboglobulin; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A; D010978:Platelet Factor 4; D002097:C-Reactive Protein