Medicaltalks almost 6 years ago

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This is a patient with Raynaud phenomenon!!

It is essentially a vasospastic disorder causing discoloration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally other extremities. The cause of the phenomenon is unknown,but it is a disorder characterized by cold or stress-induced hyperreactivity of the digital arterial smooth muscle, leading to episodic vasospasm in the fingers and toes, the body parts that are usually most susceptible to cold injury. Subsequently, it is the cause of finger ischemia that typically progresses from pallor (due to vasoconstriction) to cyanosis to erythema (red due to rapid blood reflow), and accompanied by pain. In the image, a clear line of demarcation exists between the ischemic and unaffected areas. These effects are reversible, and they must be distinguished from irreversible causes of ischemia such as vasculitis or thrombosis. Rarely, tissue necrosis occurs distal to the affected vessel, usually in the periphery of the vasculature. Drug treatment is normally with a calcium channel blocker, frequently nifedipine to prevent arterioconstriction. Patient education is the cornerstone of management, with patients being advised to avoid cold exposure, maintain the warmth of the whole body (i.e. not just wearing gloves and socks), cease smoking, avoid sympathomimetic medications, and avoid emotional stress where possible.