iloprost and Ulcer

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a non-atherosclerotic, segmental inflammatory pathology that most commonly affects the small and medium sized arteries, veins, and nerves in the upper and lower extremities. The aetiology is unknown, but involves hereditary susceptibility, tobacco exposure, immune and coagulation responses. In many cases, there is no possibility of revascularisation to improve the condition. Pharmacological treatment is an option for patients with severe complications, such as ischaemic ulcers or rest pain.This is an update of the review first published in 2016.. To assess the effectiveness of any pharmacological agent (intravenous or oral) compared with placebo or any other pharmacological agent in patients with Buerger's disease.. The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov trials register to 15 October 2019. The review authors searched LILACS, ISRCTN, Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, EU Clinical Trials Register, clincialtrials.gov and the OpenGrey Database to 5 January 2020.. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving pharmacological agents used in the treatment of Buerger's disease.. Two review authors, independently assessed the studies, extracted data and performed data analysis.. No new studies were identified for this update. Five randomised controlled trials (total 602 participants) compared prostacyclin analogue with placebo, aspirin, or a prostaglandin analogue, and folic acid with placebo. No studies assessed other pharmacological agents such as cilostazol, clopidogrel and pentoxifylline or compared oral versus intravenous prostanoid. Compared with aspirin, intravenous prostacyclin analogue iloprost improved ulcer healing (risk ratio (RR) 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15 to 6.11; 98 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence), and helped to eradicate rest pain after 28 days (RR 2.28; 95% CI 1.48 to 3.52; 133 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence), although amputation rates were similar six months after treatment (RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.09 to 1.15; 95 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence). When comparing prostacyclin (iloprost and clinprost) with prostaglandin (alprostadil) analogues, ulcer healing was similar (RR 1.13; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.69; 89 participants; 2 studies; I² = 0%; very low-certainty evidence), as was the eradication of rest pain after 28 days (RR 1.57; 95% CI 0.72 to 3.44; 38 participants; 1 study; low-certainty evidence), while amputation rates were not measured. Compared with placebo, the effects of oral prostacyclin analogue iloprost were similar for: healing ischaemic ulcers (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.54 to 2.29; 133 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.93; 135 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence), eradication of rest pain after eight weeks (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.63; 207 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.77 to 1.59; 201 participants; 1 study; moderate-certainty evidence), and amputation rates after six months (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.19 to 1.56; 209 participants; 1 study, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 0.42; 95% CI 0.13 to 1.31; 213 participants; 1 study). When comparing folic acid with placebo in patients with Buerger's disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia, pain scores were similar, there were no new cases of amputation in either group, and ulcer healing was not assessed (very low-certainty evidence). Treatment side effects such as headaches, flushing or nausea were not associated with treatment interruptions or more serious consequences. Outcomes such as amputation-free survival, walking distance or pain. Moderate-certainty evidence suggests that intravenous iloprost (prostacyclin analogue) is more effective than aspirin for eradicating rest pain and healing ischaemic ulcers in Buerger's disease, but oral iloprost is not more effective than placebo. Very low and low-certainty evidence suggests there is no clear difference between prostacyclin (iloprost and clinprost) and the prostaglandin analogue alprostadil for healing ulcers and relieving pain respectively in severe Buerger's disease. Very low-certainty evidence suggests there is no clear difference in pain scores and amputation rates between folic acid and placebo, in people with Buerger's disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia. Further well designed RCTs assessing the effectiveness of pharmacological agents (intravenous or oral) in people with Buerger's disease are needed.

Topics: Adult; Alprostadil; Amputation, Surgical; Aspirin; Epoprostenol; Folic Acid; Hematinics; Humans; Iloprost; Male; Middle Aged; Pain; Placebos; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prostaglandins; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Thromboangiitis Obliterans; Ulcer

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a non-atherosclerotic, segmental inflammatory pathology that most commonly affects the small and medium sized arteries, veins, and nerves in the upper and lower extremities. The etiology is unknown, but involves hereditary susceptibility, tobacco exposure, immune and coagulation responses. In many cases, there is no possibility of revascularization to improve the condition. Pharmacological treatment is an option for patients with severe complications, such as ischaemic ulcers or rest pain.. To assess the effectiveness of any pharmacological agent (intravenous or oral) compared with placebo or any other pharmacological agent in patients with Buerger's disease.. The Cochrane Vascular Trials Search Co-ordinator searched their Specialised Register (last searched in April 2015) and the Cochrane Register of Studies (Issue 3, 2015). The review authors searched trial registers and the European grey literature; screened reference lists of relevant studies, and contacted study authors and major pharmaceutical companies.. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving pharmacological agents used in the treatment of Buerger's disease.. Two review authors, independently assessed the studies, extracted data and performed data analysis.. Five randomised controlled trials (total 602 participants) compared prostacyclin analogue with placebo, aspirin, or a prostaglandin analogue, and folic acid with placebo. No studies assessed other pharmacological agents such as cilostazol, clopidogrel and pentoxifylline or compared oral versus intravenous prostanoid.Compared with aspirin, intravenous prostacyclin analogue iloprost improved ulcer healing (risk ratio (RR) 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15 to 6.11; 98 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), and helped to eradicate rest pain after 28 days (RR 2.28; 95% CI 1.48 to 3.52; 133 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), although amputation rates were similar six months after treatment (RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.09 to 1.15; 95 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence). When comparing prostacyclin (iloprost and clinprost) with prostaglandin (alprostadil) analogues, ulcer healing was similar (RR 1.13; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.69; 89 participants; two studies; I² = 0%; very low quality evidence), as was the eradication of rest pain after 28 days (RR 1.57; 95% CI 0.72 to 3.44; 38 participants; one study; low quality evidence), while amputation rates were not measured. Compared with placebo, the effects of oral prostacyclin analogue iloprost were similar for: healing ischaemic ulcers (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.54 to 2.29; 133 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.93; 135 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), eradication of rest pain after eight weeks (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.63; 207 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.77 to 1.59; 201 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), and amputation rates after six months (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.19 to 1.56; 209 participants; one study, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 0.42; 95% CI 0.13 to 1.31; 213 participants; one study). When comparing folic acid with placebo in patients with Buerger's disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia, pain scores were similar, there were no new cases of amputation in either group, and ulcer healing was not assessed (very low quality evidence).Treatment side effects such as headaches, flushing or nausea were not associated with treatment interruptions or more serious consequences. Outcomes such as amputation-free survival, walking distance or pain-free walking distance, and ankle brachial index. Moderate quality evidence suggests that intravenous iloprost (prostacyclin analogue) is more effective than aspirin for eradicating rest pain and healing ischaemic ulcers in Buerger's disease, but oral iloprost is not more effective than placebo. Verylow and low quality evidence suggests there is no difference between prostacyclin (iloprost and clinprost) and the prostaglandin analogue alprostadil for healing ulcers and relieving pain respectively in severe Buerger's disease. Very-low quality evidence suggests there is no difference in pain scores and amputation rates between folic acid and placebo, in people with Buerger's disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia. High quality trials assessing the effectiveness of pharmacological agents (intravenous or oral) in people with Buerger's disease are needed.

Topics: Alprostadil; Amputation, Surgical; Aspirin; Epoprostenol; Humans; Iloprost; Prostaglandins; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Thromboangiitis Obliterans; Ulcer

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a non-atherosclerotic, segmental inflammatory pathology that most commonly affects the small and medium sized arteries, veins, and nerves in the upper and lower extremities. The etiology is unknown, but involves hereditary susceptibility, tobacco exposure, immune and coagulation responses. In many cases, there is no possibility of revascularization to improve the condition. Pharmacological treatment is an option for patients with severe complications, such as ischaemic ulcers or rest pain.. To assess the effectiveness of any pharmacological agent (intravenous or oral) compared with placebo or any other pharmacological agent in patients with Buerger's disease.. The Cochrane Vascular Trials Search Co-ordinator searched their Specialised Register (last searched in April 2015) and the Cochrane Register of Studies (Issue 3, 2015). The review authors searched trial registers and the European grey literature; screened reference lists of relevant studies, and contacted study authors and major pharmaceutical companies.. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving pharmacological agents used in the treatment of Buerger's disease.. Two review authors, independently assessed the studies, extracted data and performed data analysis.. Five randomised controlled trials (total 602 participants) compared prostacyclin analogue with placebo, aspirin, or a prostaglandin analogue, and folic acid with placebo. No studies assessed other pharmacological agents such as cilostazol, clopidogrel and pentoxifylline or compared oral versus intravenous prostanoid.Compared with aspirin, intravenous prostacyclin analogue iloprost improved ulcer healing (risk ratio (RR) 2.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15 to 6.11; 98 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), and helped to eradicate rest pain after 28 days (RR 2.28; 95% CI 1.48 to 3.52; 133 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), although amputation rates were similar six months after treatment (RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.09 to 1.15; 95 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence). When comparing prostacyclin (iloprost and clinprost) with prostaglandin (alprostadil) analogues, ulcer healing was similar (RR 1.13; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.69; 89 participants; two studies; I² = 0%; very low quality evidence), as was the eradication of rest pain after 28 days (RR 1.57; 95% CI 0.72 to 3.44; 38 participants; one study; low quality evidence), while amputation rates were not measured. Compared with placebo, the effects of oral prostacyclin analogue iloprost were similar for: healing ischaemic ulcers (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.54 to 2.29; 133 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.93; 135 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), eradication of rest pain after eight weeks (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.63; 207 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 1.11; 95% CI 0.77 to 1.59; 201 participants; one study; moderate quality evidence), and amputation rates after six months (iloprost 200 mcg: RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.19 to 1.56; 209 participants; one study, and iloprost 400 mcg: RR 0.42; 95% CI 0.13 to 1.31; 213 participants; one study). When comparing folic acid with placebo in patients with Buerger's disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia, pain scores were similar, there were no new cases of amputation in either group, and ulcer healing was not assessed (very low quality evidence).Treatment side effects such as headaches, flushing or nausea were not associated with treatment interruptions or more serious consequences. Outcomes such as amputation-free survival, walking distance or pain-free walking distance, and ankle brachial index. Moderate quality evidence suggests that intravenous iloprost (prostacyclin analogue) is more effective than aspirin for eradicating rest pain and healing ischaemic ulcers in Buerger's disease, but oral iloprost is not more effective than placebo. Verylow and low quality evidence suggests there is no difference between prostacyclin (iloprost and clinprost) and the prostaglandin analogue alprostadil for healing ulcers and relieving pain respectively in severe Buerger's disease. Very-low quality evidence suggests there is no difference in pain scores and amputation rates between folic acid and placebo, in people with Buerger's disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia. High quality trials assessing the effectiveness of pharmacological agents (intravenous or oral) in people with Buerger's disease are needed.

Topics: Adult; Alprostadil; Amputation, Surgical; Aspirin; Epoprostenol; Humans; Iloprost; Male; Middle Aged; Prostaglandins; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Thromboangiitis Obliterans; Ulcer

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic multi-organ disease. Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and digital ulcers (DUs) in SSc patients can be resistant to usual treatments. We studied the clinical benefits, capillaroscopy changes, and cost-effectiveness of local injection of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) and intravenous prostaglandin analogs (iloprost/alprostadil) in patients with SSc with resistant DUs.. In a clinical trial study, we evaluated 26 patients fulfilling the ACR/EULAR SSc criteria with resistant DUs. Visual analog scale of pain and RP, skin color and type of ulcers, and capillaroscopy were assessed before and 1 month after treatment. In the first group, 20 units of BTX-A was injected at the base of each involved fingers by a dermatologist. In the second group, 20 µg iloprost or 60 µg alprostadil was infused daily. The cost of these treatments was compared.. In 26 patients (43 fingers), there were 16 patients (22 fingers) in the BTX-A and 10 patients (21 fingers) in the prostaglandin group. In 95.5% of the BTX-A and 90.5% of the prostaglandin group, the ulcers were healed. In both groups, a significant decrease in pain was seen (p < 0.0001). Capillaroscopy patterns in both groups were not changed although the microhemorrhages disappeared significantly (p value: BTX-A: 0.03 and prostaglandin: 0.002). The cost was significantly lower in the BTX-A injection group (p < 0.0001).. Both BTX-A and prostaglandins helped in the healing and pain control of DUs. In capillaroscopy, microhemorrhages were significantly decreased in both groups. In the BTX-A group, the cost was significantly lower as an outpatient treatment and was more time-saving.. • BTX-A and prostaglandin analogs both contributed to the healing of digital tip ulcers and improving the pain • In capillaroscopy, microhemorrhages were significantly decreased or disappeared after both treatments • There was no significant side effect in both groups • Comparing both groups, in the BTX-A group, the cost was significantly lower when performed on an outpatient treatment and more time-saving.

Topics: Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Fingers; Humans; Iloprost; Microscopic Angioscopy; Prostaglandins; Raynaud Disease; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin Ulcer; Ulcer

Twelve patients with systemic sclerosis were treated with intravenous infusions of the prostacyclin-stable analogue iloprost 0.5-2.0 ng/kg/min for 6 h from 8 to 13 days. Imminent gangrene was stopped in 2 patients and followed by healing. In 4 of 6 patients iloprost led to complete healing of ischaemic ulcers and in the remaining 2 patients to partial healing. One patient with severe Raynaud's phenomenon discontinued the study after 3 days due to severe headache. The 2 remaining patients with Raynaud's phenomenon as an indication improved, while no improvement was recorded in a patient with vasculitis of the lower leg. Side-effects such as headache, nausea and flushing were the reason that only 5 patients reached the maximum infusion rate. No statistical differences were recorded in digital bloodflow before and after the study or in plasma endothelin in the 9 patients investigated. Three of the 6 patients with healing ulcers, however, showed a pronounced decrease in plasma endothelin. Iloprost appears useful as a treatment of imminent gangrene and ischaemic ulcers in systemic sclerosis. This reparatory capacity could also be of a more general importance in therapy of this disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Endothelins; Female; Fingers; Gangrene; Humans; Iloprost; Infusions, Intravenous; Ischemia; Male; Middle Aged; Raynaud Disease; Scleroderma, Systemic; Ulcer; Vasodilator Agents

We conducted this study to assess the clinical usefulness and physiologic effects of intravenous iloprost in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis.. Thirty-five patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis, including 11 with digital ischemic ulcerations, were enrolled in a double blind placebo controlled parallel study in 2 centers. Following a 2 week washout, subjects received intravenous iloprost (0.5-2.0 ng/kg/min) or saline by continuous infusion for 6 h on 5 consecutive days. Clinical assessments, status of digital ulcers, measures of in vivo platelet activation and detailed studies of peripheral vascular response to cold challenge, were performed at entry, at 5 days of therapy and at biweekly intervals for 10 weeks.. Complete healing of all cutaneous lesions (ulcers, fissures, and paronychia) was observed 10 weeks after treatment in 6 of 7 patients receiving iloprost versus none of 4 receiving placebo (p = 0.015). Ischemic digital tip ulcers completely healed in all 4 patients with ulcers in the iloprost group, but none in the placebo group (p = 0.029). Patient diaries of frequency, duration and symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon showed improvement in both groups. Critical ischemic temperature (finger temperature during controlled cold challenge at which Raynaud's or loss of detectable digital blood flow occurred) progressively decreased in the iloprost group from 21.3 +/- 7.3 degrees C at baseline to a minimum of 16.1 +/- 3.2 degrees C at 8 weeks after treatment (p = 0.076), whereas no consistent changes were observed in the placebo group. Treatment was associated with improvement in the rate of skin temperature recovery following cold challenge. No changes were noted in ambient digital skin temperature, total digital blood flow, finger systolic pressure or in measures of in vivo platelet activation. One subject dropped out with chest pain, but adverse effects of nausea, vomiting, headache and jaw pain were otherwise limited to the 5 days of drug infusion.. Iloprost appears useful for the treatment of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis and is associated with evidence of prolonged physiologic improvement although the mechanism of this effect remains unclear.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fingers; Hemodynamics; Humans; Iloprost; Infusions, Intravenous; Ischemia; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Activation; Raynaud Disease; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin; Temperature; Ulcer

In 2 randomized, double-blind studies, 109 diabetic patients with trophic lesions and 101 non-diabetics suffering from peripheral vascular disease (PVD) stage IV (Fontaine) received daily 6-hour i.v. infusions of iloprost (less than or equal to 2ng/kg/min) or of placebo over 28 days. Iloprost treatment was superior to placebo, showing ulcer healing in more than 60% of patients compared to less than 25% in the control group. The beneficial effects were sustained during a 1 year follow-up period. Platelet activation, adhesion, aggregation and release reaction on atherosclerotic lesions, impaired microvascular perfusion, loss of microvascular barrier function, increased white blood cell - vessel wall interaction and hemorheological disturbances are all believed to play a role in PVD. Stable PGI2-mimetics inhibit platelet activation by all endogenous mediators as well as platelet release of mitogenic factors (PDGF).

Topics: Animals; Blood Platelets; Cardiovascular Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diabetic Angiopathies; Disease Models, Animal; Double-Blind Method; Epoprostenol; Humans; Iloprost; Infusions, Intravenous; Microcirculation; Random Allocation; Rats; Thrombosis; Ulcer; Vascular Diseases

Intravenous iloprost is currently recommended in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) refractory to oral therapy and of digital ulcers (DUs) related to systemic sclerosis (SSc). In real-life practice there is a huge heterogeneity about the Iloprost regimens used.. A survey was carried out on SSc patients that interrupted Iloprost infusion to compare acral vascular symptoms just before Iloprost withdrawal and just after the missed infusion. Severity, and frequency of RP, new DUs onset or aggravation of those pre-existing were reported. Last available capillaroscopic images were also evaluated.. The analysis includes 50 patients. After iloprost withdrawal, 11 patients reported a RP worsening because of enhanced intensity (p = 0.007). Only 8 patients of them also complained of an increased frequency (p = 0.07). None of the patients experienced digital ulcers for the first-time during quarantine. Among the 27 patients with a history of digital ulcers, 9 reported worsening and 7 recurrence of DUs. Overall, 17 patients (34.0 %) complained of a worsening of SSc vascular acral manifestations, namely RP or DUs. Reduced capillary density was associated with RP worsening, in particular, each unit increase of capillary density corresponds to an average 44 % decrease in the odds of RP worsening (OR 0.56, CI 95 % 0.36-0.97, p = 0.037). As for RP worsening, the aggravation of DU was associated with a lower capillary density.. Low capillary density can predict a worsening of both RP and DUs in controlled quarantine conditions within a month after iloprost discontinuation in SSc patients.

Topics: COVID-19; Humans; Iloprost; Pandemics; Raynaud Disease; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin Ulcer; Ulcer

Topics: Humans; Iloprost; Ischemia; Leg; Leg Ulcer; Skin; Ulcer

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate response to therapy in 73 patients affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) who underwent long-term cyclic treatment with intravenous iloprost for peripheral vascular involvement (average duration of treatment 54.12±41.04 months). Seventy-three SSc patients were enrolled. Data were collected by reviewing clinical records and by phone or direct interview. Patients underwent a thorough physical examination at the end of follow up. The incidence of severe vascular manifestations was also assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon's signed rank test and descriptive statistics using Statview software. In this study cohort, 55 of 73 (75.2%) patients had a history of ischemic digital ulcers (DUs); 28 patients (38.4%) had active DUs at the beginning of treatment. Skin ulcers healed completely in 25 of 28 patients (89.3%) at the end of the first treatment. However, 40 of 55 patients (72.6%) relapsed after an average of 24 months. There was a significant correlation between relapse rate and/or number of ulcers and clinical factors (diffuse subset, changes in results of Allen's test, NT-pro BNP levels). The annual incidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was 2.34 (95%CI: 0.94-4.83) per 100 person years, the rate of gangrene was 2.7%, and no cases of scleroderma renal crisis were recorded. The incidence of PAH and of digital gangrene was higher than that observed in unselected SSc case series. These data suggest that our patients treated with iloprost have a higher vascular involvement than large case series of unselected SSc patients. A number of clinical factors are correlated to the severity of vascular involvement and could have an impact on the response to therapy. The clinical significance of these findings requires clarification and further investigation is needed.

Topics: Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Iloprost; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin Ulcer; Ulcer

A single series of patients affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) and cyclically treated with iloprost was reviewed in order to evaluate the incidence of digital ulcers (DUs) and to compare the characteristics between the patients with and without this painful and disabling vascular complication. The record charts of 85 SSc patients were revised. Ischemic DUs and scleroderma contracture ulcers were separately considered. Twenty-nine subjects developed ischemic DUs during the course of the disease; whereas, scleroderma contracture ulcers occurred in six subjects. Ischemic DUs were associated with younger age at scleroderma onset, a longer disease duration, a longer time delay from scleroderma diagnosis to iloprost therapy, a bigger skin involvement, the presence of joint contractures, a videocapillaroscopic late pattern, a history of smoking, and of corticosteroids therapy. After the exclusion of four subjects with concomitant peripheral arterial disease, a forward-stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that only four variables, i.e., age at scleroderma onset, delay in beginning iloprost therapy, history of smoking, and presence of joint contractures remained significantly associated with ischemic DUs. In a score reflecting the sum of these four risk factors, the prevalence of ischemic DUs increased progressively from the lowest to the highest value of the score. The predictivity of this model was evaluated by the receiver-operating characteristics curve, with an estimated area under the curve of 0.836 with 95% confidence interval from 0.736 to 0.937. All the patients with scleroderma contracture ulcers were characterized by both diffuse pattern of disease and positivity for anti-Scl70 antibody. In this retrospective study, scleroderma patients with ischemic DUs are characterized by early disease onset, delay in beginning iloprost therapy, smoking habit, and presence of joint contraction. A score reflecting the sum of these factors may be useful to predict the risk of developing ischemic DUs.

Topics: Female; Fingers; Humans; Iloprost; Ischemia; Male; Middle Aged; Raynaud Disease; Risk Factors; ROC Curve; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin; Ulcer; Vasodilator Agents

Iloprost is useful in the short-term treatment of severe Raynaud's phenomenon and ischaemic ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), but its long-term effects are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to report long-term outcome (median follow-up 36 months) in a prospective observational study of a cohort of 30 consecutive patients with SSc who received iloprost therapy with maintenance infusions every 3 weeks after an initial cycle of 5 consecutive days. At the end of the observation, compared to the pretreatment point, we observed complete healing of digital ulcers in 19/21 patients (90%), a decrease of the Raynaud's phenomenon visual analogue score from 10/10 (25th-75th percentile 7-10) to 5/10 (4-6.75) ( P <0.001) and, in patients with diffuse cutaneous involvement, of the modified Rodnan skin thickness score from 25.5 (16.5-31.5) to 16 (13.5-20) ( P = 0.02), minimal improvement of the Health Assessment Questionnaire from 0.87 (0.68-1.37) to 0.75 (0.62-1.25), which was neither statistically nor clinically significant. The forced vital capacity was not significantly changed, but the diffusion capacity corrected for the alveolar volume decreased from 71% (54-76.7) of the expected value to 62% (51.5-71) ( P = 0.02). In one patient with limited SSc a positive effect on pulmonary hypertension was observed. Six patients, after a median of 25 months of treatment and healing of digital ulcers, discontinued the therapy; after a median of 10 months ulcers did not recur in five of these six. Other reasons for discontinuation were: tolerability (1), disease progression (normotensive renal crisis: 1), and death due to intracranial haemorrhage (1). This same patient had previously suffered a central retinal vein thrombosis. In conclusion, long-term therapy with iloprost in patients with SSc has a durable effectiveness on ischaemic ulcers and Raynaud's phenomenon, but it is not possible to conclude that the natural history of the disease was modified.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Female; Fingers; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Iloprost; Ischemia; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prospective Studies; Raynaud Disease; Respiratory Function Tests; Scleroderma, Systemic; Skin; Ulcer; Vasodilator Agents