Case Report

Severe Raynaud's Phenomenon with Yohimbine Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

SINDHU JOHNSON, JOHN IAZZETTA, and CATHARINE DEWAR

ABSTRACT.

Yohimbine is a selective a-2 adrenergic antagonist that has been used in the pharmacologic management of erectile dysfunction (ED). We describe a patient with CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia) who paradoxically experienced worsening of Raynaud's phenomenon when using yohimbine for ED. (J Rheumatol 2003;30:2503-5)

Key Indexing Terms:

YOHIMBINE
CREST
RAYNAUD'S
IMPOTENCE
SILDENAFIL

---

From the Division of Rheumatology, University of Toronto; the Department of Pharmacy, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario; and the Division of Rheumatology, Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

S. Johnson, MD, FRCPC, University of Toronto; J. Iazzetta, Pharm D, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre; C. Dewar, PhD, MD, FRCPC, Lions Gate Hospital.

Address reprint requests to Dr. C. Dewar, Suite 406A, 125 East 13 Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2L3, Canada.

Submitted November 1, 2002; revision accepted April 14, 2003.

---