Long-term evaluation of lung function in patients affected by scleroderma treated with cyclic iloprost infusions

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function in patients suffering from scleroderma treated for 3 years with cyclic iloprost infusions. Methods: Thirty patients affected by scleroderma (five men and 25 women, mean age 49.3 years, mean disease duration 8 years, 19 with limited and 11 with diffuse disease patterns) were treated for 5 consecutive days every 4 months for 3 years with iloprost. Pulmonary function was evaluated at baseline and after 3 years. At the end of the trial, color Doppler echocardiography was performed in 26 of the patients. Results: Spirometric parameters did not significantly change after 3 years of therapy when expressed as percentage of the predicted normal value. Diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide decreased at the limit of statistical significance. No patients developed clinical pictures suggestive of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, which was performed in 26 subjects by evaluation of estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Conclusions: This long-term study showed that lung function remained substantially stable after 3 years of treatment with cyclic iloprost infusions. No cases of severe pulmonary hypertension were observed.