Raynaud's syndrome is also sometimes called Raynaud's disease or Raynaud's phenomenon and affects 3 to 5 percent of the population. In this syndrome, the small arteries delivering blood to the fingers, toes and sometimes the ears and nose spasm, usually in response to various triggers. The affected parts of the body may become cold and numb and change color.
Cause
The mechanism causing Raynaud's syndrome is unknown, according to the Merck Manual. It may be caused by improper, excessive communication between the part of the nervous system called the sympathetic system and the small blood vessels. Various triggers have been implicated as noted by the Mayo Clinic. Most common are cold weather and stress or emotional upset. It can also be triggered by smoking or vibrating machinery. The most common form is for the disease to occur alone, 80 percent of the time; this is called primary Raynaud's. Secondary Raynaud's occurs the remaining 20 percent of the time and is defined as occurring as part of another disease, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or after a trauma.
Symptoms
The Mayo Clinic notes that symptoms of Raynaud's include cold fingers and toes and a sequence of color changes in the digits, usually from white to blue to red. Numbness or pain may also be present. Not all the symptoms may be present, and sometimes there will not be prominent color changes. The symptoms can last for minutes to hours.
Diagnosis
According to the National Institutes of Health, the diagnosis of Raynaud's is made by a careful history, as when a health care professional asks about symptoms; this will also help determine if the Raynaud's is primary or secondary. A vascular ultrasound may be performed. This is an imaging test that uses sound waves to visualize blood flow in the vessels. A cold stimulation test may also be done. Various blood tests can also be performed to look for evidence of immune disorders, such as an anti-nuclear antibody test or an erythrocyte sedimentation rate; both these tests look at proteins in the blood.
Treatment and Prevention
Lifestyle changes can reduce symptoms. These include avoiding the cold and wearing mittens when needed, stopping smoking and avoiding caffeine and other drugs contributing to the disorder. Drug treatment includes topical nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, ace inhibitors and sildenafil, which is brand name Viagra. All of these dilate the blood vessels or prevent spasm. Nerve surgery or amputation may be warranted in extreme cases.
Prognosis and Complications
According to the National Institutes of Health, the outcome depends on the severity and the cause of the condition. Most of the time it is a nuisance rather than a debilitating disease, so the prognosis is generally quite good. Complications are rare but include gangrene, ulceration of the skin and thin. tapered digits with smooth shiny skin and disfigured nails.
