Effects of intra-arterial ketanserin in Raynaud's phenomenon assessed by 99MTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy.

The severity of the peripheral vasopastic condition in 10 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon was investigated using scintigraphy of both hands. 99MTc-pertechnetate was used as a diffusable tracer and scintigrams were recorded with normal hand skin temperature and following immersion of the hands in ice-cold water. Cold provocation resulted in a marked reduction of the rate of blood inflow and tissue perfusion in affected hands. The selective peripheral S2-antagonist ketanserin and placebo were administered intra-arterially according to a double-blind cross-over design. As compared to placebo, ketanserin significantly improved the rate of inflow following cold provocation, and it increased tissue perfusion in the hands of the patients to values normally observed in healthy individuals. The results support the use of ketanserin in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon.