FDA approves first-ever medication for severe frostbite treatment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aurlumyn (iloprost) injection for treating severe frostbite in adults, aiming to decrease the risk of finger or toe amputation.
Frostbite can occur in several stages, ranging from mild frostbite that does not require medical intervention and does not cause permanent skin damage, to severe frostbite when both the skin and underlying tissue are frozen and blood flow is stopped, sometimes requiring amputation.
Iloprost, the active ingredient in Aurlumyn, is a vasodilator (a drug that opens blood vessels) and prevents blood from clotting implying that it is beneficial in reducing blood pressure and improving blood flow to frozen fingers and toes. It a synthetic analogue of prostacyclin and was first developed by researchers seeking a treatment for vascular disorders and was initially investigated for its vasodilatory properties and potential therapeutic benefits in conditions such as pulmonary hypertension and peripheral vascular disease.
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