Blood Viscosity, Finger Systolic Pressure and Effect of Dazoxiben Treatment in Primary Vasospastic Disease

Abstract

Whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte deformability, and finger systolic pressure (FSP) were measured in ten patients with primary vasospastic (Raynaud's) disease before and after a controlled double-blind prospective trial involving dazoxiben (a thromboxane inhibitor, Pfizer). Five of the patients were assigned to dazoxiben and five to placebo.

Before treatment, the FSP at 10 °C in the patient groups was significantly lower than that in a normal reference group, but all rheologic variables, measured at 37 and 10 °C, were normal. There was no significant correlation between FSP and rheology. Dazoxiben did not yield any subjective relief or give any objective effect.