title: Prostacyclin reduces symptoms and sympathetic dysfunction in erythromelalgia in a double-blind randomized pilot study.
abstract: Sympathetic dysfunction and skin microvascular arteriovenous shunting with insufficient nutritive perfusion and tissue hypoxia have been reported in patients with erythromelalgia. The objective of this study was to determine whether iloprost, a synthetic prostacyclin analogue--primarily a vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet activation--improves symptoms and sympathetic function in patients with erythromelalgia. Erythromelalgia is a rare condition, but we managed to collect 12 primary cases for a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group pilot trial evaluating the effect of iloprost (n = 8) and placebo (n = 4). The treatment effect was determined by the need for cooling of affected skin and by vasoconstrictor tests following Valsalva's manoeuvre and contralateral cooling. The results show a significant reduction in symptoms (p < 0.05) and sympathetic dysfunction (p < 0.05) in the iloprost group. Further studies with oral prostacyclins or analogues are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ole M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Kalgaard
authors.forename: Cato
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mørk
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvernebo
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004916:Erythromelalgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011464:Epoprostenol; D016285:Iloprost