An exaggerated physiological response to cold exposure or emotional stress where the extremities turn white (ischaemia) then blue (deoxygenation) then red (reperfusion), is called Raynaud’s phenomenon.¹
Causes of a Raynaud’s phenomenon:
Although the vast majority of RP is primary (idiopathic, PRP), RP can be secondary to a number of different conditions, including connective tissue disease.¹
Primary (Raynaud’s Disease)
- > 50%
- Female > Male (5:1)
Secondary to:
- Connective tissue disease
- scleroderma (80-90%) – presenting symptoms in 30%
- 95% with CREST syndrome → Raynaud’s
- 75% systemic symptoms → Raynaud’s
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (20%)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Dermatomyositis / polymyositis (30%)
- scleroderma (80-90%) – presenting symptoms in 30%
- arterial occlusive disease
- atherosclerosis extremities – Males > 50 years
- thromboangiitis obliterans – young male smokers
- acute arterial occlusion
- thoracic outlet syndrome
- pulmonary hypertension
- neurological disorders
- blood dyscrasias
- cold agglutinins, cryoglobulinemia, myeloprolipherative disease, Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinaemia
- trauma – vibrational injury, electric shock, cold injury
- drugs
- ergots
- methysergide
- beta-blockers
- chemotherapy – bleomycin, vinblastine, cisplatin
- neurological disorders
- intervertebral disc disease
- syringomyelia
- spinal cord tumours
- stroke
- Polio
- carpal tunnel syndrome
Herrick, Ariane L. “Evidence-based management of Raynaud’s phenomenon.” Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease vol. 9,12 (2017): 317-329. doi:10.1177/1759720X17740074