Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Raynaud's phenomenon is common but often comes to medical attention only after many years. This review updates the understanding of the pathogenesis, the approach to management, and current approaches to drug therapy. In his 1862 thesis, Maurice Raynaud describes the condition afflicting a 26-year-old female patient: “Under the influence of a very moderate cold . . . she sees her fingers become ex-sanguine, completely insensible, and of a whitish yellow color. This phenomenon happens often without reason, lasts a variable time, and terminates by a period of very painful reaction, during which the circulation is re-established little by little and recurs to the normal state.” 1 The term “Raynaud’s disease” was used to describe these vascular events until Hutchinson, who argued that multiple etiologic factors could be responsible, introduced the concept of “Raynaud’s . . .