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Lack of Ocular Changes with Dimethyl Sulfoxide Therapy of Scleroderma
Author(s) -
Shirley Hoke H.,
Lundergan Maureen K.,
Williams H. James,
Spruance Spotswood L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1002/j.1875-9114.1989.tb04123.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dimethyl sulfoxide , ophthalmology , visual acuity , saline , physical examination , clinical trial , surgery , dermatology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Eighty‐four patients with scleroderma hand ulcers were treated 3 times daily for 3 months in a randomized, double‐blind clinical trial by immersing their hands into bags of topical 70% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), topical 2% DMSO, or 0.85% normal saline. Fifty‐five of the patients completed the study, 46 of whom received blinded initial (0 days) and final (12 weeks) full ophthalmologic examinations. This evaluation included past ocular history, past drug history, family ocular history, pupillary examination, cycloplegic refraction, motility study, applanation tension, indirect dilated funduscopic examination, and slit‐lamp examination. No statistical difference in these ocular variables, including visual acuity, lenticular changes, and cataract development, were noted among the three groups, and in no patients were the DMSO‐related lenticular changes reported in numerous animal studies found. The maximum theoretical dosage of DMSO administered was 2.6 g/kg/day, which is comparable to those used in the animal studies.