Evaluation of finger skin temperature in scleroderma patients cyclically treated with iloprost

To evaluate by computerized digital thermometry (CDT) the effect of cyclic iloprost infusions on finger skin temperature (FST) in scleroderma patients.

Twenty-two scleroderma outpatients (one man, 21 women, mean age 54.2 years) underwent three computerized digital thermometries, the first one 3 days before a 5-day cycle of iloprost infusion, the second the day of the fifth infusion soon after the end of the therapy and the third 1 month after. FST was evaluated under basal conditions, immediately after a cold test and after an 18 min recovery period. For comparison CDT was performed in 10 sex and age matched control subjects.

FST was lower in scleroderma patients before iloprost infusion than in the control group either after cold test either at the end of the recovery period while no difference was found before the cold test. Soon after iloprost infusion and 1 month later the FST at the end of the recovery period increased from the pre-treatment value of 27.8 +/- 5.3 to 30.4 +/- 3.5 degrees C and to 30.0 +/- 4.5 degrees C, respectively (P < 0.05 for both values). No substantial differences were found concerning FST before and at the end of the cold test.

Iloprost administration for 5 days allows to normalize the FST value after cold exposition not only immediately after the infusions but even at 1 month distance from the therapy. Despite its short half-life the effect of the drug on endothelium is protracted.