Oscillometry of radial artery in acrocyanosis and cold sensitivity

Acrocyanosis is reassessed on the basis of 34 new patients with diagnostic clinical features. The most useful tests are the skin temperature differences (STD) between wrist and end of fingers (or ankle and end of toes) and oscillometry over the radial and dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries. Capillaroscopy of the conjunctival and nailfold vessels is useful in half the patients. Capillary resistance was not helpful. STD of 1.5 degrees C or more between skin of wrist or ankle and fingertip or toetip, is usually associated with more severe disease and capillary abnormalities on microscopy, and with reduced oscillometry (to 1 or less) over the radial arteries and dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries. Reduced oscillometry is more associated with abnormalities than the other tests, and more than STD. The work of Mulvany and his colleagues suggests an explanation for the low oscillometry. Larger vessels than the arterioles and digital vessels can become resistance vessels in various circumstances. It is likely that the radial artery and vessels of similar diameter can temporarily act as resistance vessels in patients with acrocyanosis in a low temperature environment.