Effect of nicotinic acid and dipyridamole on tissue blood flow in peripheral vascular disease

The effect of 2-weeks' treatment with daily doses of 150 mg nicotinic acid, 300 mg dipyridamole and placebo, in random order, on muscle blood flow and skin temperature gradient in the legs was measured in 6 patients with advanced arteriosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. Mean resting skin temperature gradient and muscle blood flow were uninfluenced by any of these treatments. Dipyridamole, but not nicotinic acid, caused a significant increase in exercise muscle blood flow compared to placebo (p less than 0.01). This improvement was maintained after 2-months' continuous treatment at the end of the trial. It is concluded that dipyridamole may be of value in the medical management of peripheral vascular disease.