Quantitative assessment of vasospasm by Doppler spectrum analysis in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon

The aim of the study was to investigate whether increased peripheral resistance which is supposed to exist in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon, can be quantified by using parameters of Doppler spectra of flow in the ulnar and radial arteries. A group of 24 patients with this abnormality were compared with a matched group of 24 normal subjects. Doppler spectra were analysed according to the methods of Fronek, Gosling and by Fast Fourier Transform analysis. The Doppler spectra obtained from patients at room temperature were very different from those in normal subjects, showing characteristic wave-forms with multiple oscillations in 92% of the patients. All three analysing techniques demonstrated significant differences between the two groups, which can be attributed to increased peripheral vascular resistance in the patient group. The results of this study emphasize the value of analysis of Doppler spectra obtained from ulnar and radial arteries in the assessment of peripheral vascular resistance in vasospastic disease.