Myxoedema and Raynaud's phenomenon

Cold hands is a common complaint in myxoedema and were reported by 15 of 17 patients before treatment of myxoedema with 4 having Raynaud's phenomenon. An increased cold sensitivity of the digital arteries could be demonstrated during finger cooling in about half of the patients and Raynaud's phenomenon was verified in the 4 patients as digital arterial closure. The cold sensitivity decreased significantly after treatment with L-thyroxine. The increased cold sensitivity in untreated myxoedema is probably due to an increased sympathetic discharge to the hands that might disclose a predisposition for Raynaud's phenomenon.