Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by an altered nitric oxide (NO): endothelin I ratio and by endothelial dysfunction.
Aims: To verify the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) alpha-cyclodestrin treatment on endothelial function, quantified as flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the radial artery.
Methods: In 16 women with SSc (age 57 +/- 2.7 years, means +/- SE) in whom a diagnosis of SSc had been made several years earlier (7.1 +/- 1.2 years), FMD was evaluated by an echotracking technique on the radial artery, using trinitroglycerin vasodilation as a non-endothelial measure of the vessel's ability to increase its diameter maximally. FMD was evaluated after 4 months washout period and after 4 months cyclic infusion of PGE1 alpha-cyclodestrin. Expired NO was measured at the same time.
Results: PGE1 alpha-cyclodestrin cyclic infusions did not modify systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate or trinitroglycerin radial artery vasodilation. On the other hand, it induced a marked and significant increase in FMD of the radial artery, which was also accompanied by an increase in blood flow and expired NO.
Conclusions: Endothelial dysfunction and reduced FMD associated with SSc are improved by cyclic treatment with PGE1 alpha-cyclodestrin. This effect occurs together with a concomitant increase in expired NO, suggesting its direct positive influence on endothelial function. It may also partly explain the clinical beneficial effect of the drug in SSc.