[Efficacy of beraprost sodium on Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with systemic sclerosis]

Raynaud's phenomenon is an important clinical manifestation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). No effective therapy, however, has been established for this phenomenon. Beraprost sodium, a stable prostacycline (PGI2) analogue, has been reported to improve hemorrheological impairment in patients with rheumatic diseases. In this study, we, therefore, examined the efficacy of beraprost sodium on Raynaud's phenomenon in 30 patients with SSc. Sixty micrograms per day of beraprost sodium was found to be effective in 14 patients (47%) in the period of 15.0 +/- 12.5 weeks. Raynaud's phenomenon in patients who responded to beraprost sodium was characterized by infrequent nail fold thrombosis and narrower hand areas affected by Raynaud's phenomenon, with mild secondary symptoms such as pain. These results indicate that beraprost sodium is effective for mild forms of Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with SSc.