Treatment for Raynaud's Syndrome - 2 -Introduction Raynaud's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the blood vessels in the fingers narrow. It usually affects women between the ages of eighteen and thirty. “Between 3 and 5% of people are affected.” (Harvard, 2003) There is no known cause or cure. (Segala et al, 2003) Clinical features mainly concern (but are not limited to) the toes. Other fingers that may be affected include the toes, nose and earlobes. Exposure to cold and emotional stress triggers vasoconstriction in the fingers. It was originally described by French Catholic physician Maurice Raynaud in 1862. In this condition, the vasospastic response is most frequently induced by exposure to cold temperatures and is often accompanied by digital color changes. After onset, a three-color change occurs [blanching (white), cyanosis (blue), and reactive hyperemia (red)]. “Pallor (blanching) shows vasospasm and loss of arterial blood flow, cyanosis shows deoxygenation of static venous blood, and rubor (red) shows reactive hyperemia following the return of blood flow.” (Bowling, 2003) Theories about the causes of Raynaud's syndrome include: damage to the arterial wall, connective tissue disease (CTD), or repetitive use of vibrational tools. (Ko, 2002) There are various methods for diagnosing Raydaund syndrome. Surfacing in cold water is one method. In this method, patients' hands are immersed in cold water to observe any clinical features. Another way of diagnosis looks at medical conditions associated with Raynaud's syndrome, such as CTD, scleroderma, and lupus. A third technique includes physical examination of the ulnar and radial vessels, nail folds of capillaries, the presence of digital inflammation, sclerodactyly (sleroderma, hardening of the skin of the fingers and toes) or telangiectasias (chronic dilation of groups of capillaries). Raynaud's - 3 - which cause dark red spots on the skin, usually on the face). Laboratory tests are another consideration of diagnosis. The tests consist of counting antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-topoisomerase (an enzyme that reduces DNA supercoiling by breaking and rejoining one or both strands of DNA). In patients with Raynaud's syndrome, high levels of ANA and low values ​​of anti-topoisomerase are found. (Desai, 2003) “Patients with circulating autoantibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-Scl 70 antibodies are at (an) increased risk of developing connective tissue disease. Systemic sclerosis is the connective tissue disease most frequently associated with Raynaud's phenomenon." (Bowling, 2003) This syndrome is described as primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) if it is not associated with another disorder and as secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (SRP) if it occurs in association with another disorder..