RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Abnormal responses to endothelial agonists in Raynaud's phenomenon and scleroderma.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 119
OP 121
VO 28
IS 1
A1 R R Freedman
A1 R Girgis
A1 M D Mayes
YR 2001
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/28/1/119.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE: To further specify the site of vascular dysfunction in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and scleroderma. METHODS: Ten patients with RP and scleroderma and 11 healthy control subjects received brachial artery infusions of sodium nitroprusside, an endothelium independent vasodilator, bradykinin, and substance P while bilateral finger blood flow was measured with venous occlusion plethysmography. RESULTS: Both groups showed vasodilation to sodium nitroprusside. However, in response to the endothelium dependent compounds bradykinin and substance P, the controls showed vasodilation, whereas the patients showed vasoconstriction. CONCLUSION: The vascular defect in RP and scleroderma does not lie at the site of the muscarinic receptor, but possibly in a distal signaling mechanism.