Nisoldipine in primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

The efficacy and tolerability of the dihydropyridine derivative nisoldipine was assessed in 36 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon. Nisoldipine was given at doses of 5 mg and 10 mg daily for one month each in a placebo controlled double-blind cross-over trial. There was no subjective improvement in symptoms or changes in resting finger blood flow, platelet aggregability or red cell deformability after nisoldipine. The incidence of unwanted effects was similar to that previously described with nifedipine, suggesting that plasma concentrations of nisoldipine were sufficient to cause pharmacodynamic effects. Nisoldipine, in contrast to nifedipine is ineffective in the treatment of primary Raynaud's phenomen when given in a dose of up to 10 mg/day.