Raynaud’s Disease

Diagnosis

Your healthcare professional begins by asking about your symptoms and medical history and performing a physical exam. Because other conditions can cause similar symptoms, additional tests may be done to rule out related medical problems. A key diagnostic test is nailfold capillaroscopy, which helps distinguish between primary and secondary Raynaud’s by examining the skin at the base of a fingernail under a microscope or magnifier. This test can reveal abnormal changes, such as swelling of the blood vessels.

Blood tests may also be used to look for autoimmune or connective tissue diseases that can be linked to Raynaud’s. These may include:

• Antinuclear antibodies test, often called an ANA test, which can show whether the immune system is mistakenly attacking the body.

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which measures how quickly red blood cells settle in a tube and can indicate inflammation.

Although no single blood test can diagnose Raynaud’s, these results combined with other evaluations help identify underlying conditions affecting blood vessels.

Treatment

For mild symptoms of Raynaud’s, dressing warmly, layering clothing and wearing gloves or thick socks can be effective. When symptoms are more severe, medications may be needed. Treatment aims to reduce how often attacks occur and how intense they are, prevent tissue damage and manage any underlying condition.

Medications for Raynaud’s may include:

• Calcium channel blockers, which relax and widen small blood vessels in the hands and feet and may help heal finger or toe sores.

• Vasodilators, which help relax blood vessels and may include medicines such as losartan, sildenafil, fluoxetine and prostaglandins.

In more serious cases, procedures or surgery may be recommended:

• Nerve surgery involves making small cuts in the affected hands or feet to strip tiny nerves around blood vessels, helping reduce attacks.

• Chemical injections, such as numbing medicines or onabotulinumtoxinA, can block nerve activity in the hands or feet and may need to be repeated if symptoms persist.