RAYNAUD PHENOMENON-INVESTIGATION & MANAGEMENT

SUMMARY

1. An easy test to distinguish primary from secondary Raynaud's is nailfold capillaroscopy.

2. Avoid the cold and drugs that cause vasoconstriction.

3. Smoking/tobacco use is contraindicated.

4. Treatment includes: calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers, sildenafil, and nitroglycerin transdermal.

5. Localized digital sympathectomy - for patients who have failed medical treatment & continue to experience ischemia/necrosis.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].