[Nitroglycerin tape for Raynaud's phenomenon of rheumatic disease patients--an evaluation of skin temperature by thermography].

Topical nitroglycerin has been tried for the alleviation of Raynaud's phenomenon in rheumatic diseases, but its effect is not widely recognized. We evaluated the effect of nitroglycerin tape (NTG tape) for peripheral circulatory failure of 7 patients with rheumatic diseases (4 women and 3 men, aged 35-73 years). The underlying rheumatic diseases included: systemic sclerosis 4 patients, polyarteritis nodosa (PN) 1 patient, cutaneous PN 1 patient and digital microinfarction with pulmonary fibrosis 1 patient. An NTG tape (containing 2.5 mg of nitroglycerin) was applied unilaterally on one forearm or leg, and the change in skin temperature was evaluated by thermography. Skin temperature of the extremities significantly increased at 2 and 3 hours after the application of NTG tape. Feeling of cold and/or pain improved in all patients. Adverse effect was headache in one patient. These results suggest that NTG tape may deserve further use in the treatment of peripheral circulatory failure in patients with rheumatic diseases.