Bloodthinner Can Help Frostbite Victims Drug spares digits, study says By Evelyn Renold Posted Jun 19, 2007 11:38 AM CDT Copied Millions of Americans, predominantly women, suffer from a condition called Raynaud's phenomenon. The condition causes a temporary loss of blood flow to the fingers, toes and sometimes the nose or ears (KRT Photos) A clot-busting drug is remarkably effective in treating frostbite patients, according to new research from the University of Utah health center, reports the Los Angeles Times. Patients whose treatment included tissue plasmingoen activator (tPA) kept 90% of affected fingers and toes; patients treated before the drug was in use had 41% amputated. The drug, used in addition to standard therapy, salvages tissue that's in jeopardy only if it's given within 24 hours of the injury. Frostbite commonly affects soldiers training or fighting in cold weather as well as people who work or play in the cold and the homeless. Read These Next A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. A lesson in minding your own business ... at 30,000 feet. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. Desperate search for missing campers continues in Texas. Report an error