TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of sildenafil on digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: Analysis from a single centre pilot study
AU - Brueckner, Claudia S.
AU - Becker, Mike O.
AU - Kroencke, Thomas
AU - Huscher, Doerte
AU - Scherer, Hans Ulrich
AU - Worm, Margitta
AU - Burmester, Gerd
AU - Riemekasten, Gabriela
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - Objective: In this pilot study, the effect of sildenafil on digital ulcer (DU) healing and related clinical symptoms was analysed. Methods: A total of 19 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were treated with maximally tolerated sildenafil doses up to 6 months. Primary outcome was the healing of DUs. Changes in other clinical symptoms were also evaluated. Results: In all, 49 DUs were present at baseline; this decreased to 17 ulcers (p<0.001) at the end of sildenafil treatment. Furthermore, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), pain and activity improved (p=0.003, p=0.002 and p=0.05, respectively). A total of 9 patients developed 12 new DUs during sildenafil treatment. Conclusions: This study indicates an effect of sildenafil on DU healing in patients with SSc and an improvement of RP and associated symptoms that should be validated in controlled studies.
AB - Objective: In this pilot study, the effect of sildenafil on digital ulcer (DU) healing and related clinical symptoms was analysed. Methods: A total of 19 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were treated with maximally tolerated sildenafil doses up to 6 months. Primary outcome was the healing of DUs. Changes in other clinical symptoms were also evaluated. Results: In all, 49 DUs were present at baseline; this decreased to 17 ulcers (p<0.001) at the end of sildenafil treatment. Furthermore, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), pain and activity improved (p=0.003, p=0.002 and p=0.05, respectively). A total of 9 patients developed 12 new DUs during sildenafil treatment. Conclusions: This study indicates an effect of sildenafil on DU healing in patients with SSc and an improvement of RP and associated symptoms that should be validated in controlled studies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955460984&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/ard.2009.116475
DO - 10.1136/ard.2009.116475
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 19900936
AN - SCOPUS:77955460984
SN - 0003-4967
VL - 69
SP - 1475
EP - 1478
JO - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
IS - 8
ER -
