Please note that this summary was posted more than 5 years ago. More recent research findings may have been published.
This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Calcium channel blockers, such as nifedipine, are confirmed as useful in reducing the frequency, duration, severity of attacks, pain and disability associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon. People had two to six fewer attacks per week on average with treatment, and 13 without. Raynaud’s is a disorder which reduces blood flow to the fingers and toes as a result of the blood vessels tightening and going into spasm in the cold.
This updated review suggested that calcium channel blockers may be more effective in higher doses than lower doses and help primary symptoms rather than the secondary form of Raynaud’s that is due to underlying disease. Most research has been into nifedipine. Although no serious adverse events while using calcium channel blockers were reported, more people withdrew from trials as a result of minor side effects.
Previous studies have also shown that calcium channel blockers were effective, but this review expands the research for this indication and might inform future guidelines.
Why was this study needed?
Between three and five in every 100 people have Raynaud's, and no underlying disease is identified for 80 to 90% of cases. Conservative and older treatments for Raynaud’s such as alpha blockers have been replaced by a variety of drugs considered to have fewer side effects. Calcium channel blockers are one such drug group. They have shown some benefits for some individuals.
There is still some uncertainty regarding the most effective treatment for Raynaud’s. No previous meta-analyses have yet picked apart the effects of dose, type of calcium channel blockers or subtype of Raynaud’s.
This review is the first of its kind to analyse the effectiveness of these medications in primary compared with secondary Raynaud’s and by channel blocker type and dose.
What did this study do?
This systematic review of 38 randomised controlled trials aimed to assess the benefits and harms of calcium channel blockers versus placebo for treatment of individuals with Raynaud’s.
The trials lasted about seven weeks and included 982 participants aged 18 and over. Nine trials identified patients with primary Raynaud’s and five studies identified patients with secondary Raynaud’s. The rest examined a mixture of patients with both primary and secondary from of the disease.
Major outcomes considered included frequency and severity of attacks, pain, quality of life, withdrawals and serious adverse events. The researchers assessed the risk of bias and concluded that most of the trials were considered at moderate to low risk.
What did it find?
- From 23 trials (528 participants), considering both primary and secondary Raynaud’s, treatment reduced attacks, from about 13.7 per week in the placebo group to 6.13 per week with treatment (mean difference -6.07, 95% confidence interval -6.53 to -5.61). The difference was only two attacks when a trial from the 1980s was excluded from the analysis.
- Pain was reduced by 1.5 points on a 0 to 10 scale (15% absolute reduction, with a lower score meaning less pain) compared with placebo.
- Subgroup analyses by Raynaud’s type, drug class, and drug dose suggest that higher doses of nifedipine may be more effective for primary Raynaud’s than for secondary Raynaud’s, and are likely have a greater effect in primary than in secondary Raynaud’s. However, differences were small and were not found for all outcomes.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
NICE (2014) states there is currently no good evidence recommending the use of drugs other than calcium channel blockers for secondary Raynaud’s. Bosentan, an alternative type of drug, may reduce new digital ulcer formation compared with placebo, secondary to systemic sclerosis, but should only be used under specialist supervision.
Other options include surgical interventions such as digital sympathectomy, removing affected tissue, stellate ganglion blocks, lumbar sympathetic blocks and lifestyle measures such as avoiding temperature drops which stimulate attacks.
For primary Raynaud’s, trialling nifedipine (one type of calcium channel blocker) is suggested but based on limited evidence. For day to day management, wearing gloves and warm footwear, avoiding stress and exercising regularly are recommended.
What are the implications?
This review also suggests that calcium channel blockers in higher doses may be beneficial for the managing the frequency and severity of primary Raynaud’s compared to lower doses but differences were small and not found for all outcomes.
It was not possible to ascertain the long-term treatment effects as the trials did not exceed 20 weeks. Adverse effects were more common with Calcium channel blockers compared to placebo, but none were considered serious.
Any serious adverse side effects reported were rare and did not differ from placebo.
Citation and Funding
Rirash F, Tingey PC, Harding SE, et al. Calcium channel blockers for primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;12:CD000467.
Cochrane UK and the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group are supported by NIHR infrastructure funding.
Bibliography
ASSH. The Cold Hand. Washington: American Society for Surgery of the Hand; 2012.
Menon R, Swanepoel A. Sympathetic Blocks. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain. 2010;10(3):88-92.
NICE. Raynaud’s phenomenon. Clinical Knowledge Summary. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2014.
Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK. What is Raynaud’s? London: Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK; 2016.
Produced by the University of Southampton and Bazian on behalf of NIHR through the NIHR Dissemination Centre
