Intra arterial ketanserin in peripheral vascular disease.

An open study utilizing a serotonergic S2 antagonist, ketanserin, in a single 10mg intra arterial dose, was undertaken in eleven patients suffering various micro-vascular ischemic diseases. Ipsilateral limb blood flow improved 50%, skin temperatures rose 2.5 degrees C and venous oxygen tensions measured in the diseased foot showed modest elevation. The changes were significant and comparable to those achieved with chemical sympathectomy. These findings suggest ketanserin may have a place in the treatment of microvascular ischemic disease. However, systemic and contralateral flow induced changes suggested regional specificity was not obtained with arterial injection.