Subclinical manifestations of autoimmune rheumatic diseases in primary Raynaud's phenomenon

Twenty-nine patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon underwent functional (pulmonary functional studies and oesophageal manometry), histologic (minor salivary gland biopsy) and serologic (autoantibodies) evaluation for subclinical manifestations of autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD). Seven (24%) has strong evidence and eight (27%) possible evidence of ARD. All patients with strong evidence of ARD had Raynaud's phenomenon with a duration of less than five years. This study suggests that such manifestations are frequent in patients wih primary Raynaud's phenomenon and can be detected with non-aggressive methods which should be used early in the course of their disease.