Ileoprost may alleviate cholesterol emboli syndrome

Patients with cholesterol emboli syndrome—a progressive disease unresponsive to treatment—may benefit from intravenous ileoprost. In a research pointer on p 268, Elinav and colleagues report on how four patients improved after treatment with ileoprost. Most cyanotic lesions disappeared, renal function improved, and pain was dramatically reduced. The authors say that ileoprost should be started early to stabilise and reverse the clinical syndrome.