What is Raynaud's syndrome?

Raynaud's syndrome is also called peripheral artery spasm. After the disease occurs, there will be obvious peripheral artery spasm, and the patient's skin will have color changes, which is more obvious. The cause of Raynaud's syndrome is still not fully understood. It is generally believed that it is related to genetic and environmental factors, and this disease can also cause the occurrence of other diseases.

Raynaud's syndrome, also known as limb artery spasm, is a spasmodic disease of limb arterioles caused by dysfunction of the sympathetic nerves that control peripheral blood vessels. It is a syndrome in which spasm of small arteries in the extremities causes a series of skin color changes in the hands or feet. The disease was first proposed by Reynolds in 1862, hence the name. Traditionally, people with Raynaud's symptoms are divided into two types: 1. Primary, or Raynaud's disease, in which no underlying disease can be found and the symptoms and condition are alleviated. 2. Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon is also known as Raynaud's phenomenon, which occurs when a patient suffers from one or more diseases with more severe symptoms and course of disease. At present, Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomenon have been merged and collectively referred to as Raynaud's syndrome.

Causes

The cause of Raynaud's disease is still not fully understood and is related to genetic and environmental factors. Cold stimulation, emotional excitement or mental stress are the main triggering factors. Other contributing factors include infection, fatigue, etc. To diagnose Raynaud's disease, it is necessary to rule out related diseases that cause Raynaud's phenomenon and identify the cause:

1. Immune diseases and connective tissue diseases: Almost all connective tissue diseases may be accompanied by Raynaud's phenomenon, and it may appear before other manifestations of connective tissue diseases. Such as scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis and Sjögren's syndrome. The vascular lesions of these diseases are mainly spasms in the early stages, which cause inflammation of the arterial wall after repeated attacks, followed by thrombosis and lumen occlusion, and ultimately lead to tissue necrosis and ulcers.

2. Chronic occlusive arterial disease: occlusive arteriosclerosis, thromboangiitis obliterans, and arterial embolism.

3. Nervous system diseases: including central and peripheral nervous system diseases, such as subthalamic tumors, spinal cord tumors, myelitis and nerve damage.

4. Drug factors: ergot and other antispasmodics, beta-blockers, contraceptives, cyclosporine, heavy metal salts and discontinuation of nitroglycerin, etc.

5. Occupational factors: such as repetitive vibration damage and hypothenar hammer syndrome (ulcerative arterial thrombosis). Commonly found in cast iron workers, mechanics, stonemasons, typists, pianists, etc. It can also occur due to direct damage to the arteries, cold injury, and exposure to vinyl chloride at work.