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Back| Characteristic | Raynaud's Disease | Raynaud's Phenomenon |
|---|---|---|
| Onset Age | 10 to 20s | 30 to 40s |
| Gender | Predominantly female | More males compared to primary type |
| Severity | Severe pain | Fairly severe |
| Tissue Necrosis | Rare | Common |
| Distribution | Symmetrical, affecting both hands and feet | Asymmetrical |
| Nailfold Capillaries | Normal | Dilated, irregular lumens, enlarged loops |
| Etiology | Unknown | Connective tissue diseases, vascular, neurovascular, hypercoagulable states, blood disorders, tumors, medications, injuries, etc. |
Explanation
Raynaud's disease should be distinguished from Raynaud's phenomenon.
Raynaud's phenomenon refers to arterial spasm occurring secondary to other diseases, commonly seen in autoimmune disorders such as scleroderma, dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and nodular arteritis. It can also occur in syringomyelia, thoracic outlet syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy due to lead or arsenic poisoning. Nailfold capillary microscopy can assist in differential diagnosis. Capillary dilation, bleeding, avascular areas, and angiogenesis are often observed in Raynaud's phenomenon caused by autoimmune diseases, while Raynaud's disease generally shows no abnormal findings.
