Effect of Sildenafil on Digital Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis: Analysis from a Single Centre Pilot Study

Overview

Journal Ann Rheum Dis

Specialty Rheumatology

Date 2009 Nov 11

PMID 19900936

Citations 35

Authors

Claudia S Brueckner

Mike O Becker

Thomas Kroencke

Doerte Huscher

Hans Ulrich Scherer

Margitta Worm

Gerd Burmester

Gabriela Riemekasten

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: In this pilot study, the effect of sildenafil on digital ulcer (DU) healing and related clinical symptoms was analysed.

Methods: A total of 19 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were treated with maximally tolerated sildenafil doses up to 6 months. Primary outcome was the healing of DUs. Changes in other clinical symptoms were also evaluated.

Results: In all, 49 DUs were present at baseline; this decreased to 17 ulcers (p<0.001) at the end of sildenafil treatment. Furthermore, the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), pain and activity improved (p=0.003, p=0.002 and p=0.05, respectively). A total of 9 patients developed 12 new DUs during sildenafil treatment.

Conclusions: This study indicates an effect of sildenafil on DU healing in patients with SSc and an improvement of RP and associated symptoms that should be validated in controlled studies.

Citing Articles

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Systemic pharmacological treatment of digital ulcers in systemic sclerosis: a systematic literature review.

Ross L, Maltez N, Hughes M, Schoones J, Baron M, Chung L Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023; 62(12):3785-3800.

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Combination therapy with bosentan and sildenafil for refractory digital ulcers and Raynaud's phenomenon in a 30-year-old woman with systemic sclerosis: Case report and literature review.

Rademacher J, Wincup C, Tampe B, Korsten P J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2022; 5(2):159-164.

PMID: 35382024 PMC: 8922606. DOI: 10.1177/2397198319876738.

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