title: [Physiopathology of Raynaud phenomenon: current data].
abstract: Despite over a century of investigation, the pathophysiology of Raynaud's phenomenon remains an enigma. The two main theories of the cause of digital artery vasospasm are increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and a local fault in the digital vasculature. An increased sensitivity and/or concentration of alpha-2 adrenoreceptors is suggested. The activation of serotoninergic receptors may play a role in the maintenance of vasospasm. The recently discovered increase in the vasoconstrictive peptide endothelin-1 and the quantitative deficit in the potent vasodilating calcitonin gene-related peptide may lead to a better understanding of vasospasm mechanisms and open the field for new therapeutical approaches to Raynaud's phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne, hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Priollet
mesh_terms: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide