[Ilomedin (Iloprost) and Buerger disease].

Three patients with Buerger's disease, ischaemic ulcers and pain, accepted treatment with ilomedin, a synthetic stable prostaglandin, as a supplement to standard treatment. The patients were treated intravenously, with ilomedin for six hours daily for 28 days. One patient had total healing of his ulcers just after treatment. The ulcers of the other patients showed almost complete healing about two months after treatment. However, the ulcers then returned to their previous size. Ilomedin was then used as preoperative treatment prior to amputation in order to facilitate healing after amputation. Our conclusions are that we now have a promising drug, ilomedin, in the treatment of patients with Buerger's disease, ulcers and pain, but controlled studies are necessary.