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Treatment of severe secondary Raynaud's disease.

Ehrly AM

Proceedings of the international occupational hand-arm vibration conference, October 28-31, 1975, Cincinnati, Ohio. Wasserman DE, Taylor W, Curry MG, eds. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-170, 1977 Apr; :44-46

00074686

Treatment of secondary Raynaud's disease must involve the treatment of the impaired microcirculation in the ischemic tissue. It can be performed in three ways: by treating the vasospastic component; by reconstruction of occlusions or stenosis in the greater arteries; or by improvement of the flow properties of blood. Whereas the first two types of treatment often give unsatisfactory results, a new rheological therapy using Ancrod seems to be successful. This drug, a purified fraction of snake venom, lowers the fibrinogen (9001325) concentration in blood and thereby improves the flow properties of blood and plasma. In six patients suffering from severe secondary Raynaud's disease, Ancrod was injected subcutaneously for a 2 to 4 week period at a dose of 1 unit per kilogram of body weight per day. Some days after starting the treatment, the ischemic pains were reduced and finally disappeared. The beneficial effect continued even after ending the treatment. The mode of action of this new drug is discussed.

Medical-care; Cardiovascular-system-disorders; Blood-flow; Blood-chemicals; Drugs; Circulatory-system; Venoms

9001-32-5

19770401

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1977

Proceedings of the international occupational hand-arm vibration conference

OH