Eight patients with Raynaud's phenomenon were entered into a double-blind crossover study of nifedipine versus placebo, with 7 patients undergoing finger plethysmography before and after sublingual nifedipine administration. While receiving nifedipine, all patients reported decreased frequency and severity of attacks, and 4 of 5 had digital ulcer healing. Total finger blood flow increased in 5 of 6 patients after treatment with sublingual nifedipine. This preliminary study indicates that nifedipine may be a useful agent for treatment of digital vasospasm.
Raynaud's phenomenon is a disorder characterized by digital vasospasm, with sequential phases of digital pallor, cyanosis, and erythema. Attacks are generally precipitated by exposure to cold or emotional stimuli and remit spontaneously. However, in some people these attacks may b e functionally incapacitating or result in digital ulcers or gangrene. To date, therapy for this disorder has been disappointing and is often limited by untoward side effects (1-3).
Nifedipine is one of the calcium channel blocking agents that can induce vasodilatation, and it is effective in treating angina pectoris d u e t o coronary artery spasm. It interferes with vascular smooth muscle contraction by antagonizing calcium influx via the slow inward channels (4-6). Our study was based on the presumption that this agent could decrease or From the Divisions of