THERAPEUTICAL NOTES   

Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia 1999 February;134(1):67-72

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Effects of prostaglandin PGE1 on cutaneous microcirculation. Flowmeter and thermographic assessment

Distante F., Berardesca E., Miori L., Rabbiosi G.

Università degli Studi - Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Clinica Dermatologica

Background. In this study, the efficacy of PGE1 therapy was evaluated to improve cutaneous microcirculation in patients suffering from progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and Raynaud’s phenomenon and from chronic ischemic wounds of legs.
Methods. Sixteen subjects were included in the trial; 13 of them were suffering from PSS and Raynaud’s phenomenon; 3 of them from ischemic ulcers of legs. The subjects were treated with 60 µg/die of PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrin in saline intravenous infusion. Cutaneous microcirculation was assessed by means of contact thermography with image analysis and laser Doppler flowmeter with reactive hyperemic test. From the analysis of this test, baseline skin blood flow, the area under the curve of maximal vasodilatation (AUC) and the maximal hyperemic response (max peak) was calculated.
Results. The results show a statistically significant increase of limb skin temperature, of AUC and maximal hyperemic response values. Baseline mean flux values, though increased, were not statistically significantly changed.
Conclusions. The conclusion is drawn that PGE1 can be an effective support in cutaneous vascular disease therapy. The mechanism of action of this compound could be related to an improvement of microcirculation modulation in response to neurovegetative triggers.