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It is a common disease, especially among young women, and that causes pain in fingers, changes of color and, sometimes, skin injuries, exposure to cold.

What is Raynaud's phenomenon?

 

Raynaud's phenomenon or, simply, Raynaud's, is a disorder characterized by decreased blood flow - usually to the fingers of the hands, and less frequently in the ears, toes, nipples, knees or nose. In general, vascular spasms as attacks in response to exposure to cold, vibration or emotional upset.

 

Raynaud's phenomenon can occur as a single manifestation or with other diseases. The diseases most frequently associated with Raynaud's are autoimmune or connective tissue, such as:

 

• Systemic lupus erythematous (lupus).
• Scleroderma.
• CREST syndrome (calcium deposits in the skin, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia).
• Buerger's disease.
• Sjögren's syndrome.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Occlusive vascular disease.
• Polymyositis
• Cryoglobulinemia.

 

What population suffers Raynaud's phenomenon?

 

In Spain if affects between 3'7 and 5% of the population and usually slightly but in 10% of the cases adopting severe forms of presentation. It is more common among women than among men and especially between 20 and forty.

It also appears with some frequency in menopause, especially among women who have not made hormonal replacement therapy.

In two thirds of the cases the symptoms disappear spontaneously within 7 years after onset.

 

What are the causes of Raynaud's phenomenon?

It is unknown what the exact cause is. One theory links blood disorders characterized by increased platelets or red blood cells that can increase blood viscosity. Another theory involves the special receptors in the blood that control the constriction of blood vessels and has proven to be more sensitive in people with Raynaud's phenomenon.

 

 

 

What are the risk factors of Raynaud's phenomenon?

 

There are certain diseases or lifestyle choices that may increase the risk that a person will develop Raynaud's phenomenon. Risk factors include:

• An autoimmune disease or existent connective tissue.
• Smoking (in men).
• Alcohol consumption (in women).
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral shaped bacterium found in the stomach, which (along with acid secretion) damages stomach and duodenal tissue, causing inflammation and peptic ulcers.

What are the symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon?

 

The following are the most common symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon ..; however, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• A pattern of color changes in fingers as follows: Pale or white that is blue and then red when the hands are warmed; color changes usually occur after the person was exposed to cold or emotional upset.
• The hands may become swollen and painful when warmed.
• In severe cases, ulcers develop on the finger pads.
• Gangrene may develop in the fingers, which can lead to amputation (in about 10 percent of severe cases).

 

How is Raynaud's phenomenon diagnosed?

 

There are no specific laboratory tests that can confirm a diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon. Instead, diagnosis is usually based on symptoms described by the patient and the exclusion of other diseases. Your doctor may perform a cold challenge test to cause color changes in the hands and study the changes of the flow curve with a plethysmograph digital or subungeal capil-laroscopy studies.

 

 

Treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon:

 

Specific treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon will be determined by your physician based on:

• Your age, overall health and medical history.
• How advanced the disease is.
• Your tolerance to specific medications or therapies.
• Expectations for the course of the disease.
• Your opinion or preference.

 

Although there is no cure for Raynaud's phenomenon, the disorder can be successfully managed with proper treatment. You can include the following:

• Preventive measures such as wearing gloves or avoiding cold exposure.
• Stop smoking.
• Wear protectors for ulcerated fingers.
• Avoiding trauma or vibration to the hand (such as the use of vibrating tools)
• During the winter months drugs can be given that are used to treat high blood pressure (antihypertensive drugs like nifedipine) or new vasodilator drugs that can be administered orally (Bosartan) or intravenously (prostaglandins). These medications help to reduce the constriction of blood vessels but are limited to the most severe cases.

 

People show the first manifestation of Raynaud's phenomenon when they are between 40 and 50 they should be evaluated to determine if an underlying disease exists. Up to 50 percent of people with Raynaud's develop a secondary disorder, usually in the connective tissue.