title: Iloprost enhances portal flow velocity and volume in patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iloprost, a prostacyclin analog, reduces hepatic microcirculatory damage after ischemia-reperfusion injury in animal liver models. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the portal flow velocity changes after Iloprost infusion in patients with systemic sclerosis and Raynaud's phenomenon, who usually have increased risk of microvascular thrombosis and transient liver disturbances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (3 males and 12 females, median age 58 years, range 47-66 years), with systemic sclerosis and Raynaud's phenomenon, were exclusively treated with an infusion of Iloprost (2 ng/kg/min, 6 h/day) for 5 days. In each subject, the portal flow velocity (PV, cm/sec) and portal flow volume (PFV, mL/min) were obtained by using portal color Doppler ultrasonography equipment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iloprost administration significantly (p<0.001) increased both the PV (23.6+/-3.4 cmlsec vs. 29.1+/-3.9 cm/sec) and PFV (1748.8+/-310. 7 mL/min vs. 2254.9+/-404.1 mL/min) values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatic perfusion significantly improved after Iloprost administration, suggesting that such treatment might be useful in preventing vascular complications in patients with systemic sclerosis. Iloprost improves the portal hemodynamics, favoring local microvascular patency, and its effectiveness may be safely monitored by using portal color Doppler ultrasonography.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research (CIR), Laboratory of Internal Medicine and Hepatology and Campus Bio-Medico University, School of Medicine, 00155 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambrosino
authors.forename: Vito Michele
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrina
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frego
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lumachi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000150:complications*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016285:Iloprost