Acute and chronic effects of two different intravenous iloprost regimens in systemic sclerosis: a pragmatic non-randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: I.v. iloprost (ILO) may be used in the treatment of refractory RP and digital ulcers. We aim to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of two different ILO regimens by power Doppler US (PDUS) and nailfold videocapillaroscopy.

METHODS: In this 3-month single-centre pragmatic non-randomized trial, 96 SSc patients were included and stratified according to ILO treatment as: no ILO (group A), ILO once monthly (group B) and ILO for five consecutive days (group C). Resistivity index (RI), finger pulp blood flow and periungual vascularization by PDUS, and sum of capillaries apex width in 1 mm by nailfold videocapillaroscopy were evaluated. Results were adjusted for the average outdoor temperature at the place of residence.

RESULTS: An acute ILO effect was observed for only finger pulp blood flow in groups B and C (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005, respectively). An acute effect was observed for RI and periungual vascularization only in group B. A progressive increase was observed for other parameters without statistical difference. ILO effects were not observed any longer before the following infusion. Some parameters (finger pulp blood flow in group B and RI in group C) showed a statistically higher increase the lower the outdoor temperature was.

CONCLUSION: ILO had an acute effect as assessed by PDUS, especially in group B. By contrast, an ILO chronic effect was not detectable before the following infusion in both treatment groups. More studies are needed to define how often ILO should be administered.