title: [Fast and efficient healing of scleroderma-associated acral ulcers with sildenafil].
abstract: Acral ulcers in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) are often recalcitrant to therapy. Sildenafil, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase-5, dilates small arteries by increasing endothelial cGMP. Oral administration of sildenafil to a 35-year-old white male patient suffering from incapacitating PSS with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and acral ulcers induced a clinically significant reduction in dyspnea and increase in walking distance within one week as well as complete and long-lasting healing of all ulcers within five weeks. This case demonstrates the efficacy of sildenafil in the treatment of scleroderma-associated refractory acral ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Medizinische Fakultät der Technischen Universität Dresden, Dresden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedrichson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rehberger
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fuhrmann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005121:Extremities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate