[Controlled long-term blood pressure measurement with intravenous prostaglandin E1 infusion]. / Kontrollierte Blutdrucklangzeitmessung unter intravenöser Prostaglandin-E1-Infusion.

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study and a follow-up open study with 48 patients between 22 and 87 years of age with peripheral occlusive arterial disease in Fontaine's stage II and IV, the systolic, diastolic and mean pressure and heart rate were studied during intravenous infusion of 40 mcg prostaglandin-E1. This normal therapeutic dose did not have any clinical relevant effect on the blood pressure or cause any significant changes versus placebo in the individual variables measured. Local irritation involving the veins was observed in 6 patients, 1 patient dropped out because of nausea.

[Mucoid cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery with simultaneous arteriosclerosis]. / Mukoid-zystische Adventitiadegeneration der Arteria poplitea bei gleichzeitiger Arteriosklerose.

A 56-year-old male patient presented with intermittent claudication due to cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery. In addition independent symptomatic arteriosclerotic alterations of several arteries distal and proximal of the popliteal artery were detected. The etiologic, diagnostic and differential-diagnostic aspects in general and the therapeutic implications of this uncommon case are discussed.

[Raynaud syndrome following timolol-containing eyedrops]. / Raynaud-Syndrom nach Timolol-haltigen Augentropfen.

It has been well known for a long time that beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking substances may cause Raynaud's phenomenon in hands and feet if applied orally or parenterally. Nevertheless, vasospastic phenomenons of the "Raynaud"-type have never before been described following local administration. Now a Raynaud's syndrome found in a 58-year old patient, who had been treated for glaucoma with timolol (Chibro-Timoptol-eyedrops), leaves no doubt that there is a risk of systemic vasospasm in ocular application, too. An exposition test was carried out to prove the connection between the application of timolol eyedrops and Raynaud's syndrome. It did reveal that an initially already marginally prolonged warm-up time after exposition to cold water, as measured in the thermographic test, did relevantly get worse after timolol application. At the same time, no change in arterial systolic finger blood pressure could be demonstrated using Doppler sonography. The induction of Raynaud's syndrome by beta-adrenoreceptor-blocking eyedrops may depend on an individual disposition.