EFFECT OF TICLOPIDINE ON THE CUTANEOUS CIRCULATION IN PERIPHERAL VASCULAR-DISEASE

To assess the effect of ticlopidine on the cutaneous circulation, 25 p atients with lower limb ischemia were investigated just before and at two hours after being given a 200 mg oral dose of ticlopidine. The tra nscutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (PtcO2) and the skin temperatur e were determined at 35 limb sites and 9 chest walls sites. Both the P tcO2 and the skin temperature were significantly increased at two hour s after the administration of ticlopidine (p < 0.01). The findings sug gest that ticlopidine can improve the cutaneous microcirculation in pa tients with peripheral vascular disease.