TY - JOUR T1 - Fluorescence optical imaging as a novel technique for the visualisation of inflammation in patients with systemic sclerosis with Raynaud’s phenomenon: a pilot study JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases JO - Ann Rheum Dis SP - 1279 LP - 1280 DO - 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204958 VL - 73 IS - 6 AU - Alexander Pfeil AU - Karl F Drummer AU - Peter Oelzner AU - Joachim Böttcher AU - Christian Jung AU - Gunter Wolf Y1 - 2014/06/01 UR - http://ard.bmj.com/content/73/6/1279.abstract N2 - Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease affecting various organs including the peripheral vessels and resulting in Raynaud`s phenomenon. For treatment of Raynaud´s phenomenon, the vasodilator Prostaglandin I2 analogue iloprost is widely used. Fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) is an in vivo technique to visualise inflammation based on the accumulation of fluorescence optical contrast media (indocyanine green, ICG) which is proved in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.1 The aim of this prospective pilot-study was to visualise inflammation before and after treatment with iloprost using FOI in patients with SSc and associated Raynaud`s phenomenon (figure 1).Figure 1 (A) Normal fluorescence optical imaging of a healthy control. (B) Initial imaging of the enhancement of indocyanine green by fluorescence optical imaging as a marker of inflammatory activity in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and associated Raynaud`s phenomenon before the application of iloprost (day 0). (C) … ER -