Abstract
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°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)°C v 2.2 (2.8)°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.
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Figure 1 .
Change in finger temperature (FT) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and normal controls after the application of NTG tapes. (A) NTG tape to normal controls (n=6). No obvious rise in FT was noted. (B): NTG tape to patients with SSc (n=25). FT was raised significantly after the application of NTG tape (28.7 (3.0)°C v 30.8 (2.6)°C, p<0.01). The dotted lines represent 32.4°C (mean-2SD of 19 normal controls).
Figure 2 .
Representative thermographic images of hands in a patient with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and a normal control before and after the application of NTG tape. An obvious rise in finger temperature was seen in a patient with SSc after the application of NTG tape (A, before; B, after) but not in a normal control (C, before; D, after).
Figure 3 .
Change of finger temperature (FT) after one hour's application of NTG tape or placebo tape. Six patients who showed a distinct rise in FT (>2°C) with NTG tape were monitored using placebo tape. The degree of raised temperature with NTG tape was significantly higher than with placebo tape (4.2 (1.9)°C v 2.2 (2.8)°C, p<0.05).