SciFocus/Jan 3, 2025 — The battle against frostbite has reached a pivotal milestone. The FDA has approved iloprost, the first drug in the U.S. to treat severe frostbite, a condition often leading to amputations. Researchers are now looking toward the future with “coldscreen” lotions that may prevent frostbite altogether.
“This approval represents a significant step forward in frostbite care.”
Key Highlights:
- Iloprost’s Role: Originally approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension, iloprost expands blood vessels and enhances oxygen flow, helping damaged tissue heal.
- Clinical Success: A French study found no amputations among frostbite patients treated with iloprost, compared to a 60% amputation rate in untreated cases.
- Innovative Prevention: “Coldscreen” lotions, inspired by sunscreen, aim to protect skin from freezing temperatures, leveraging antifreeze proteins found in Arctic species.
- Challenges of Frostbite: Frostbite damages tissue through ice crystal formation and severe inflammation upon rewarming. Standard care has long been limited to pain management and rewarming techniques.
- Real-Life Impact: Physics professor Hart Bezner’s life was changed after being treated with iloprost following a dangerous Arctic ordeal. His recovery demonstrates the drug’s life-altering potential.
The Science Behind Iloprost
- Mechanism: A synthetic version of prostacyclin, iloprost prevents blood clots and dilates blood vessels, allowing more oxygen to reach extremities.
- Delivery: Administered intravenously for frostbite, it’s a critical advancement compared to prior treatments like hyperbaric oxygen or off-label clot-busting drugs.
Frostbite Prevention on the Horizon
Biochemists are exploring antifreeze proteins and novel genetic techniques to create skin-protective solutions, signaling a proactive approach to frostbite defense.
Source: The Fight Against Frostbite Progresses
Stay warm, stay informed—science is helping us brave the cold like never before.
