Cold hands after exposure to arsenic or vibrating tools: effects of ketanserin on finger blood pressure and skin temperature

• Published in: Acta pharmacologica et toxicologica Vol. 58; no. 5; p. 327
• Main Authors: Lagerkvist, B E, Linderholm, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark 01-05-1986
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Arsenic Poisoning; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Double-Blind Method; Hand - blood supply; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Ketanserin; Male; Middle Aged; Piperidines - adverse effects; Piperidines - pharmacology; Random Allocation; Raynaud Disease - physiopathology; Regional Blood Flow - drug effects; Skin Temperature - drug effects; Vibration - adverse effects
• ISSN: 0001-6683
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1986.tb00117.x

The effect of ketanserin, a serotonin 5-HT2 receptor inhibitor, on the cold-provoked vasospasm in arsenic workers was examined by measuring the finger systolic pressure (FSP). After injection of 10 mg ketanserin the skin temperature and the FSP of the cooled finger increased significantly. Prolonged oral treatment with ketanserin, 2 X 40 mg per day, did not significantly influence the skin temperature or FSP during local cooling in arsenic workers or patients with primary or vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon. The effect of ketanserin intravenously indicates that serotonin is involved in the mechanism behind vasospasm of arsenic workers in the same way as it is known to be in patients with primary and vibration-induced Raynaud's phenomenon.