Raynaud’s syndrome (RS) – colloquially called white finger disease – (synonyms: Raynaud’s disease, Raynaud’s disease, ICD-10 I73.0) refers to circulatory disorders of the hands or feet caused by vasospasm (vascular spasm).
Primary Raynaud’s syndrome can be distinguished from secondary Raynaud’s syndrome:
- Primary Raynaud’s syndrome – vasospasm of the fingers caused mainly by cold, but also by emotions (= functional circulatory disorder).
- Secondary Raynaud’s syndrome – vasospasm, which are symptoms of various underlying diseases (= structural circulatory disorder).
Sex ratio: the ratio of males to females for primary Raynaud’s syndrome is 1: 5.
Frequency peak: primary Raynaud’s syndrome usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. The symptoms develop during or after puberty and often subside after menopause (female menopause).Secondary Raynaud’s syndrome first appears usually after the 3rd decade of life.
The prevalence of primary and secondary Raynaud’s syndrome is reported to be 5-10% in Europe and North America. In Germany, the prevalence of primary Raynaud’s syndrome is about 3% of the population.
Course and prognosis: Primary Raynaud’s syndrome is usually harmless and does not require special therapy. The symptoms can be counteracted by keeping the fingers or feet warm. In secondary Raynaud’s syndrome, the underlying disease must be treated.
