The relationship between subjective vasospastic complaints and finger blood flow measurements in Raynaud's phenomenon.
BACKGROUND
Objective circulatory tests in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon have only rarely been related to subjective complaints.


METHODS
In 55 Raynaud patients the correlation between daily self-recorded frequency, duration and severity of vasospastic attacks and the measurement of finger skin blood flow during local cooling was investigated.


RESULTS
No significant correlations were found between complaints as registered in the diaries and finger skin temperature and laser Doppler flux before, during and after a standardized local cooling procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Finger skin blood flow measurements do not necessarily reflect digital vasospasm in daily life. Besides studies on the diagnostic value and reproducibility of skin blood flow measurements in Raynaud's phenomenon, the relationship of test results to subjective complaints should be established.
Leesmans
E
E
Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Bartelink
M L
ML
Wollersheim
H
H
Thien
T
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D004301:Doppler Effect; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012881:Skin Temperature