Efficacy of adjunctive ambrisentan treatment for digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis: a case series study

Abstract

Purpose: The efficacy of adjunctive ambrisentan treatment in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) suffering from digital ulcers (DUs) was investigated.

Material and methods: Patients (4 males, 7 females) diagnosed with SSc at our hospital between 2017 and 2022 were enrolled. Ten of them had diffuse SSc, while one had limited SSc. These patients received daily 5 mg doses of ambrisentan in addition to their regular SSc treatment for 16 weeks. Parameters including the total number and size of existing and new DUs, Visual Analog Score (VAS), frequency of Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) attacks, and any adverse effects were assessed.

Results: At baseline, the median number and size of DUs was 3.0 (interquartile range (IQR): 2.0–4.0 cm) and 0.4 cm (IQR: 0.3–0.5 cm), respectively. Following the intervention, seven patients with a median of 2.0 DUs and a size of 0.35 cm (IQR: 0.15–0.45 cm) at baseline achieved complete healing. Significant improvements were also observed in other patients. VAS scores decreased from a baseline median of 5.0–0.0 (IQR: 0.0–1.0), and both the frequency and duration of RP attacks notably reduced.

Conclusion: Adjunctive ambrisentan therapy proved effective in promoting DU healing and preventing new DUs in SSc patients.

Keywords:

• Digital ulcers
• systemic sclerosis
• ambrisentan
• Raynaud’s phenomenon

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.