Raynaud syndrome is vasospasm of parts of the hand in response to cold or emotional stress, causing reversible discomfort and color changes (pallor, cyanosis, erythema, or a combination) in one or more digits. Occasionally, other acral parts (eg, nose, tongue) are affected. The disorder may be primary or secondary. Diagnosis is clinical; testing focuses on distinguishing primary from secondary disease. Treatment of uncomplicated cases includes avoidance of cold, biofeedback, smoking cessation, and, as needed, vasodilating calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine) or prazosin.
Overall prevalence is about 3 to 5%; women are affected more than men, and younger people are affected more than older people. Raynaud syndrome is probably due to an exaggerated alpha-2 adrenergic response that triggers vasospasm; the mechanism is not defined.
Primary Raynaud syndrome is much more common (> 80% of cases) than secondary; it occurs without symptoms or signs of other disorders. In the remaining 20% of patients with Raynaud symptoms, a causative underlying disease (eg, systemic sclerosis) will be evident at initial presentation or diagnosed subsequently.
Secondary Raynaud syndrome accompanies various disorders and conditions, mostly connective tissue disorders (see table Causes of Secondary Raynaud Syndrome
Causes of Secondary Raynaud Syndrome).
Causes of Secondary Raynaud Syndrome
Nicotine commonly contributes to secondary Raynaud syndrome but is often overlooked. Raynaud syndrome may accompany migraine headaches
Migraine
Migraine is an episodic primary headache disorder. Symptoms typically last 4 to 72 hours and may be severe. Pain is often unilateral, throbbing, worse with exertion, and accompanied by symptoms… read more , variant angina
Variant Angina
Variant angina is angina pectoris secondary to epicardial coronary artery spasm. Symptoms include angina at rest and rarely with exertion. Diagnosis is by electrocardiography (ECG) and provocative… read more , and pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. It has many secondary causes; some cases are idiopathic. In pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vessels become constricted… read more , suggesting that these disorders share a common vasospastic mechanism.
Symptoms and Signs of Raynaud Syndrome
Sensations of coldness, burning pain, paresthesias, or intermittent color changes of one or more digits are precipitated by exposure to cold, emotional stress, or vibration. All can be reversed by removing the stimulus. Rewarming the hands accelerates restoration of normal color and sensation.
Color changes are clearly demarcated across the digit. They may be triphasic (pallor, followed by cyanosis and after warming by erythema due to reactive hyperemia), biphasic (cyanosis, erythema), or uniphasic (pallor or cyanosis only). Changes are often symmetric. Raynaud syndrome does not occur proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints; it most commonly affects the middle 3 fingers and rarely affects the thumb. Vasospasm may last minutes to hours but is rarely severe enough to cause tissue loss in primary Raynaud syndrome.
Raynaud syndrome secondary to a connective tissue disorder may progress to painful digital gangrene; Raynaud syndrome secondary to systemic sclerosis tends to cause extremely painful, infected ulcers on the fingertips.
Manifestations of Raynaud Syndrome
Raynaud Syndrome With Cyanosis
Multiple fingertips are cyanotic.
Raynaud Syndrome With Pallor
Pallor develops irregularly in the fingers.
Raynaud Syndrome With Digital Gangrene
Ulceration and gangrene affect the 2nd finger in this patient who had Raynaud syndrome secondary to systemic sclerosis.
Diagnosis of Raynaud Syndrome
Clinical criteria
Examination and testing for underlying disorder
Raynaud syndrome itself is diagnosed clinically. Acrocyanosis
Acrocyanosis
Acrocyanosis is persistent, painless, symmetric cyanosis of the hands, feet, or face caused by vasospasm of the small vessels of the skin in response to cold. This photo shows the contrast between… read more also causes color change of the digits in response to cold but differs from Raynaud syndrome in that it is persistent, not easily reversed, and does not cause trophic changes, ulcers, or pain.
Primary and secondary forms are distinguished clinically, supported by vascular laboratory studies and blood testing.
Clinical findings
A thorough history and physical examination directed at identifying a causative disorder are helpful but rarely diagnostic.
Findings suggesting primary Raynaud syndrome are the following:
Age at onset < 40 (in two thirds of cases)
Mild symmetric attacks affecting both hands
No tissue necrosis or gangrene
No history or physical findings suggesting another cause
Findings suggesting secondary Raynaud syndrome are the following:
Age at onset > 30
Severe painful attacks that may be asymmetric and unilateral
Ischemic lesions
History and findings suggesting an accompanying disorder
Laboratory testing
Vascular laboratory testing includes measuring digital pulse wave forms and pressures.
The main blood tests are to diagnose collagen vascular diseases (eg, measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] or C-reactive protein, antinuclear and anti-DNA antibodies, rheumatoid factor, anticentromere antibody, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide [CCP] antibodies, anti-scleroderma [SCL] 70 antibody) .
Lab Test
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Lab Test
Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
Treatment of Raynaud Syndrome
Trigger avoidance
Smoking cessation
cium channel blockers or prazosin
Treatment of primary Raynaud syndrome involves avoidance of cold, smoking cessation
Smoking Cessation
Most smokers want to quit and have tried doing so with limited success. Effective interventions include cessation counseling and drug treatment, such as varenicline, bupropion, or a nicotine… read more , and, if stress is a triggering factor, relaxation techniques (eg, biofeedback) or counseling. Drugs are used more often than behavioral treatments because of convenience. Vasodilating calcium channel blockers (eg, extended-release nifedipine 60 to 90 mg orally once a day, amlodipine 5 to 20 mg orally once a day, felodipine 2.5 to 10 mg orally twice a day, or isradipine 2.5 to 5 mg orally twice a day) are most effective, followed by prazosin 1 to 5 mg orally once a day or twice a day. Topical nitroglycerine paste, pentoxifylline 400 mg orally twice or 3 times a day with meals, or both may be effective, but no evidence supports routine use. Beta-blockers, clonidine, and ergot preparations are contraindicated because they cause vasoconstriction and may trigger or worsen symptoms.
Treatment of secondary Raynaud syndrome focuses on the underlying disorder. Calcium channel blockers or prazosin is also indicated, given as above for primary Raynaud syndrome. Antibiotics, analgesics, and, occasionally, surgical debridement may be necessary for ischemic ulcers. Low-dose aspirin may prevent thrombosis but theoretically may worsen vasospasm via prostaglandin inhibition. IV prostaglandins (alprostadil, epoprostenol,