[Action of nifedipine on the post-ischemic cold hyperemia reaction in Raynaud's phenomenon].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

To determine the effects of Nifedipine on cold stress reactive hyperemia in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

DESIGN

Open trial comprising an observation period without treatment and a treatment period with Nifedipine.

SETTING

Referral-based angiology department in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

26 patients with definite Raynaud's phenomenon were included; 6 patients were withdrawn (3 for side effects, 1 for pregnancy, 2 for protocol inobservance). INTERVENTIONS took place after one week of observation and one week of treatment with Nifedipine per os 20 mg 3 times daily. At day 0, 7 and 14, cold stress was performed to measure cold reactive post-ischemic hyperemia.

MAIN RESULTS

During the Nifedipine period, the number of attacks, their intensity and resulting total disability decreased significantly, and hyperemia increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirms improvement in Raynaud's phenomenon with Nifedipine. This calcium-channel inhibitory drug also improves cold reactive hyperemia. This new cold test is inexpensive and easy to perform and appears to be suitable for assessing hemodynamic objective improvement in drug trials concerning Raynaud's phenomenon.