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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Evaluation of Vascular Control Mechanisms Utilizing Video Microscopy of Isolated Resistance Arteries of Rats
Published on: December 5, 2017
A case-control study of candidate vasoactive mediator genes in primary Raynaud's phenomenon
A E Smyth1, A E Hughes, I N Bruce
1Department of Rheumatology, Musgrave Park Hospital, Stockman's Lane, Belfast BT9 5LQ, UK.
Objectives:
To elucidate possible genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and to determine the demographic features.
Methods:
The allele frequencies of known polymorphisms in four vasoactive candidate genes, eNOS, BKRG, ET-1 and the ETA receptor genes, were compared in a phenotypically homogeneous group of patients with primary RP and a normal control population.
Results:
In patients with primary RP, there was a higher reporting of both a family history of RP than in controls (45.3% vs 3.1%; P<0.0001) and a personal history of migraine (32.6% vs 7.2%; P<0.0001). No significant differences in allele frequencies of the candidate genes were found.
Conclusions:
These findings support the concept that genetic susceptibility exists in primary RP. The high prevalence of migraine suggests that primary RP is part of a more widespread disorder of vascular tone. These findings do not suggest that common molecular variants of these candidate genes are involved in primary RP.
