Effect of Different Iloprost Doses on Symptoms in Systemic Sclerosis

Summary

This study compared the efficacy of different dosages of long-term iloprost treatment on Raynaud's phenomenon, ulcer healing, skin thickening, and progression of internal organ sclerosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods. 50 SSc patients were 1:1 randomised either for maximally tolerated dose up to 2 ng/kg body weight \[bw\] per minute or low dose (0.5 ng/kg bw per minute) intravenous iloprost administration, for six hours daily over 21 days. The effect on RP, ulcer healing, skin thickness, oesophagus function, lung involvement as assessed by lung function parameters FVC and DLCO, and side effects were measured. Conclusions. The efficacy of prolonged administration of iloprost is also achieved with low dose iloprost by long term treatment. The effects suggest a disease-modifying capability of iloprost, but further studies are needed to proof this hypothesis.

Timeline

Start

1997-09

Primary completion

2003-12

Completion

2007-12

Publications

• Background Riemekasten G, Jepsen H, Burmester GR, Hiepe F. [Iloprost administration over 21 days as an effective therapy in systemic scleroderma--case report and review of the literature]. Z Rheumatol. 1998 Apr;57(2):118-24. doi: 10.1007/s003930050070. German.
• Kawald A, Burmester GR, Huscher D, Sunderkotter C, Riemekasten G. Low versus high-dose iloprost therapy over 21 days in patients with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon and systemic sclerosis: a randomized, open, single-center study. J Rheumatol. 2008 Sep;35(9):1830-7. Epub 2008 Jul 15.

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