Forms of Raynaud’s syndrome
One divides Raynaud’s syndrome into The primary Raynaud’s syndrome is considered idiopathic (the medical profession understands this to mean that the cause is not known), whereas the secondary Raynaud’s syndrome occurs when organic vascular damage occurs in the context of systemic diseases (i.e. diseases affecting the entire organism). One of these systemic diseases can be e.g. collagenosis (connective tissue disorder), which belongs to the rheumatic diseases, and leads to a circulatory disorder by changing the wall of the blood vessels.
- Primary Raynaud’s syndrome and a
- Secondary Raynaud- ́Syndrom
There are several possible causes of Raynaud’s syndrome:
- Closure of the arteries of the fingerz.
E.g. by microthrombi (small clots), narrowing of the vessels (proximal stenoses), compression, permanent vibration or frostbite
- Inflammatory changes in the vascular wall, e.g. in collagenosis (especially in scleroderma: fibrosis (increase in connective tissue) of the skin and organs), Wegener’s granulomatosis (rare, severe vascular inflammation), rheumatoid arthritis
- Haematological diseases:Cold agglutinins (antibodies that can cause the breakdown of blood), polycythemia (increased number of red blood cells (erythrocytes)), thrombocytosis (increased number of platelets)
- Toxic substances and drugs:beta-blockers (medication against high blood pressure -> see also our topic: high blood pressure)hormonal anti-conceptives (“pill”)cytostatics (chemotherapeutics)
- Beta-blocker (medication against high blood pressure -> also note our topic: high blood pressure)
- Hormonal anticonceptives (“pill”)
- Cytostatics (chemotherapeutics)
- Beta-blocker (medication against high blood pressure -> also note our topic: high blood pressure)
- Hormonal anticonceptives (“pill”)
- Cytostatics (chemotherapeutics)
The body needs sunlight to produce vitamin D. Since many people in Europe are not sufficiently outside, especially in the winter months, a vitamin deficiency is widespread. Vitamin D is important for many processes in the body.
Therefore a deficiency causes various symptoms. To what extent there is a connection between a vitamin D deficiency and Raynaud’s syndrome is unclear. There are patients who report an improvement or disappearance of symptoms due to vitamin D intake.
In any case, a balanced vitamin D level cannot hurt and may alleviate the symptoms. There are two main characteristics of Raynaud’s syndrome. On the one hand, there is pain, which can be explained by the reduced blood circulation, and on the other hand, there is typical discoloration.
The discolorations are three-colored and have the following sequence: It is important that the infestation always occurs symmetrically, i.e. affects both hands, feet, etc. Smoking typically worsens the symptoms, as nicotine constricts the blood vessels.
- White discoloration (narrowing of the finger arteries = vasoconstriction of the Aa.
Digitales)
- Blue discoloration of the skin (cyanosis = oxygen deficiency)
- Red discoloration (increased blood flow (reactive hyperemia) as a result of a lack of blood flow)
Raynaud’s syndrome is clinically diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms mentioned above. A symmetrical infestation of the 2nd -5th finger (index finger to little finger) indicates a primary development of the disease. As a rule, an improvement is achieved by applying heat or taking Nitrolingual (Nitroglycerin).
Nitrolingual has a vasodilatory effect. If individual fingers are asymmetrically affected and react neither to heat nor to Nitrolingual with an improvement in symptoms, this is more likely to indicate secondary Raynaud’s syndrome. In addition to clinical diagnostics, there is also instrumental diagnostics (measurement methods). With the so-called oscillograph the blood flow in the acra is measured and with the Doppler method (form of ultrasound examination) segmental vascular occlusions or constrictions are localized.
