Cardiovascular Diseases & Diagnosis

Successful Intensification of Intravenous Rheological Treatment of Phalanges Ischemia in SSc Patient Using Alprostadil

Abstract

Irena Walecka, Aleksandra Malewska, Zuzanna Lagun, Marek Roszkiewicz, Marta Wieczorek, Magdalena Kedzierska, Janusz Kocki

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare, auto immunological, connective tissue disease characterized by vasomotor disturbances, fibrosis and further atrophy of the skin and internal organs. There are many factors leading to immunological and vascular changes. One of the most prominent vascular symptoms is Raynaud’s phenomenon, which may be caused by different factors such as cold or excessive stress. This case report presents a 37- year old Caucasian woman with SSc, with severely impaired microcirculation of the hands and necrosis of the distal phalanges due to several hours of exposure to the cold. The patient required intensification of intravenous rheological treatment with alprostadil and oral usage of sildenafil, which had a positive effect on the improvement of the impaired microcirculation. Like many others, this case demonstrates that IV. rheological treatment may be effective in restoring microcirculation in such cases among SSc patients.