Summary
Calcium channel blockers have been used in the treatment of primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), and a beneficial effect was often recorded. The efficacy of slow-releasing nicardipine was assessed in a clinically homogeneous series of RP without underlying diseases in a randomized, double blind, cross-over and placebo controlled trial. Out of twenty-one selected patients (18 women and 3 men, mean age 46±12 yrs) eighteen completed the study and three dropped out, one for inadequate compliance and two due to headache. After a threeweek period, slow-releasing nicardipine (20 mg two times daily) was significantly more useful than placebo: the number of RP episodes per week decreased (p<0.02), severity of discomfort and hand disability scores, evaluated after single RP attack, clearly improved (p<0.005 and p<0.02, respectively). According to clinical improvement, time of peak flow after postischemic reactive hyperaemia test was significantly reduced only after nicardipine (p<0.01). These results show that slow-releasing nicardipine is generally well tolerated and can provide effective improvement in RP patients without underlying diseases.
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Ferri, C., Cecchetti, R., Cini, G. et al. Slow-releasing nicardipine in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomena without underlying diseases. Clin Rheumatol 11, 76–80 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207089
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207089