[Raynaud syndrome following timolol-containing eyedrops]

It has been well known for a long time that beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking substances may cause Raynaud's phenomenon in hands and feet if applied orally or parenterally. Nevertheless, vasospastic phenomenons of the "Raynaud"-type have never before been described following local administration. Now a Raynaud's syndrome found in a 58-year old patient, who had been treated for glaucoma with timolol (Chibro-Timoptol-eyedrops), leaves no doubt that there is a risk of systemic vasospasm in ocular application, too. An exposition test was carried out to prove the connection between the application of timolol eyedrops and Raynaud's syndrome. It did reveal that an initially already marginally prolonged warm-up time after exposition to cold water, as measured in the thermographic test, did relevantly get worse after timolol application. At the same time, no change in arterial systolic finger blood pressure could be demonstrated using Doppler sonography. The induction of Raynaud's syndrome by beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking eyedrops may depend on an individual disposition.