[Some little-known conservative methods of treatment of Raynaud's syndrome]

In 20 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon affecting the upper or lower limbs (1974-1976), 4 methods of conservative therapy were used, in combinations according to the case: 1) Intraarterial injections of xylocaine-priscol-pronestyl. 2) Nitroglycerine ointment. 3) More rarely, paraphalangeal injections of 1% quinine-urea. 4) The hypertensive regime of Lassen and Larsen (mineralocorticoids by mouth). The age was in general between 45 and 75 years, and a vascular context, either arterial or venous, was frequent. Signs of scleroderma were absent. Disc disorders with radicular signs were not rare (6 cases). The most frequent combination, intraarterial injections and nitroglycerine ointment, generally had a remarkable effect. On only 3 occasions was recourse had to other methods. No patient had to undergo sympathectomy.