Preliminary thermographic evaluation of new nitroglycerine tape on the peripheral circulatory disturbance in systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of newly developed nitroglycerine (NTG) tape on the peripheral circulatory disturbance in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS The finger temperature (FT) of 25 patients with SSc was monitored by thermography before the application of NTG tape to the wrist and one hour afterwards. To check the placebo effect, the change of FT with placebo tape in six patients who had shown a distinct rise in FT (>2 degrees C) with NTG tape was monitored. RESULTS Twenty one patients with SSc had a low FT before the application of NTG tape (colder than mean-2SD of normal controls). FT was significantly raised in patients with SSc after the application of NTG tape (p<0.01). Patients with low FT showed a distinct rise in FT more often than patients with a normal FT (71% v 0%, p<0.01). FT was raised with NTG tape more than with placebo tape (4.2 (SD 1.9) degrees C v 2.2 (2.8) degrees C, p<0.05). CONCLUSION The application of NTG tape increases peripheral circulation in patients with SSc who have distinct circulatory disturbance. The application of NTG tape may improve peripheral circulatory disturbance in SSc.