[Evaluation of the Doppler-pulse volume recorder in Raynaud's phenomenon]

A study was made of 15 patients (10 female and 5 male), between the age of 18 and 65 years, in order to assess the diagnostic efficacy of the combined Doppler-P.V.R. (Pulse Volume Recorder) technique when examining Raynaud's phenomenon. The patients in the study had suffered for at least a year from recurrent episodes of Raynaud's phenomenon and were compared with 15 normal non-smokers. The patients were given a Doppler and plethysmograph exam with P.V.R. in basal conditions and following heat stimulus. It can be said that while the Doppler exam supplies data that is compatible with the variations in peripheral resistance encountered in Raynaud's phenomenon, P.V.R., although able to give useful information on the general condition of the segment examined, does not yet provide exact data on account of the difficulty in interpreting the graph obtained. Interpreting P.V.R. data can be facilitated by combining P.V.R. with heat test.