RAYNAUD'S SYNDROME IMPROVED BY THE INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF A THROMBOXANE SYNTHETASE INHIBITOR

Abstract

A 66-year-old man with multiple cerebral infarctions was treated with sodium ozagral ; this was associated with an improvement in his Raynaud's syndrome attributable to vibration-induced white finger disease. Sodium ozagrel selectively inhibits thromboxane synthetase, reducing thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) and also slightly increasing prostacyclin (PGI₂) ; this leads to vasodilatation and the inhibition of platelet aggregation. An imbalance between TXA₂ and PGI₂ caused by vascular endothelial injury is thought to cause Raynaud's phenomenon. Sodium ozagrel appears to improve the symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome by relatively increasing PGI₂, thus correcting the imbalance. Ozagrel, which currently is being used to treat cerebral thrombosis and bronchial asthma, as well as to improve vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage, also may provide effective relief in patients with Raynaud's syndrome.