[Raynaud's phenomenon: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects]

The Authors report their experience concerning 120 patients with Raynaud's Disease (50 pats.) or Syndrome (70 pats.). All patients were studied before and after treatment, by clinical, thermometric, oscillographic and photoplethysmographic observation and by the Doppler examination, in order to evaluate the functional and organic component of the disease. Surgical treatment was reserved to 45 patients with secondary or primitive Raynaud's phenomenon refractory to medical therapy. The treatment of choice was thoracic sympathectomy. The result was excellent in 64% of cases, fair in 26%, and nil in 8%. 75 patients were treated with various drugs for a period of 6 months or 1 year. In 54% of cases the result was excellent, fair in 29%, and nil in 16%. The Authors conclude that diagnosis of Raynaud's Syndrome is above all clinical, that a leading part is played by photoplethysmography and the Doppler examination, and that medical therapy is indicated in the first instance, since it is capable of preventing the rise of those distal trophic disorders that constitute one of the main indications of surgical treatment.