title: [Iloprost therapy in systemic sclerosis].
abstract: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin affecting multiple organ systems. The management of this disease is challenging. Many therapeutic attempts have only been moderately successful. Iloprost, a stable prostacyclin analogue, with its antifibrotic effect can influence an important step in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. In this review we analyze the published data for the optimal dose and duration of treatment. In three different studies, iloprost given for 5 days in the highest tolerated dose of 1-2 ng/kg/min provided a significant improvement of the disease measured by the number and intensity of Raynaud attacks, healing of digital ulcers, and digital perfusion. This improvement lasted for about one month. When the infusions were repeated once a month, treatment effect could be maintained. Although the effect of this treatment regimen should be proven in further long-term studies, we think that an intermittent continuous therapy with iloprost could result in an improvement or stabilization of systemic sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Karl-Franzens Universität Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aberer
mesh_terms: D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016285:Iloprost
vernacular_title: Iloprosttherapie bei systemischer Sklerodermie.