Isosorbide dinitrate ointment in Raynaud's disease.

In a double-blind, cross-over study the efficacy of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) ointment was studied in 12 patients (eight men, four women) with vasospastic Raynaud's phenomenon during the winter. ISDN (200 mg) and placebo respectively were applied to the fingers three times a day for 3 weeks. The efficacy of the drug was judged by patients' reports on the number and duration of Raynaud's attacks, measurements of digital systolic pressures (Doppler method), and photoplethysmography of the fingers before and 3 min after local cooling in ice water. No difference in severity or duration of vasospastic attacks was found in patients treated with ISDN or placebo. There was only a slight, nonsignificant increase (+15%) in digital systolic pressure and amplitudes of digital pulse in the ISDN group. It was concluded that topical ISDN ointment seems to be ineffective for patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.