Comparative efficacy of ketanserin and pentoxiphylline in treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 15 ambulatory patients with Raynaud's phenomenon, treated for three weeks with ketanserin 80 mg/day and pentoxiphylline 1,200 mg/day, were evaluated by subjective symptom scores, daily frequency and duration of attacks, and photoplethysmography, at room temperature and after cold test. Reduced subjective symptoms and duration of attacks, together with improved cold test plethysmography, were significant only after ketanserin. All subjective symptom scores also improved after ketanserin but only for cyanosis and paresthesia after pentoxiphylline. Excellent results were obtained in 4 cases after ketanserin and in 1 case with pentoxiphylline. The authors discuss the greater importance of antivasospastic action over antiaggregating and hemorheologic effects in Raynaud's phenomenon therapy, as well as the pathogenetic role of serotonin.