The assessment of Raynaud's phenomenon using a radiation thermometer and a mild cold (20 degrees C) stress test.
Digital skin temperature was monitored using a radiation thermometer in 27 normal volunteers and in 24 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon before and after the application of a mild cold stress (20 degrees C for 1 minute). The test was performed in standardized environmental conditions and repeated after the ingestion of alcohol (30 mls of 25% ethyl alcohol). Three types of response were identified: "Normal" rewarming curves before alcohol in 25 of 27 volunteers and in one patient. "Abnormal" rewarming curves unaffected by alcohol in 18 patients. "Abnormal" rewarming curves normalized by alcohol in the 2 remaining volunteers and in 5 patients. This simple, practical, painless and noninvasive test may be of value in the objective assessment of the severity of Raynaud's phenomenon and in the evaluation of the effect of therapy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects
D000431:Ethanol