[The natural course of Raynaud's phenomenon]

136 patients suffering from Raynaud's phenomenon have been observed for 3.9 years and information has been collected by a questionnaire sent to 142 patients (136 answers: 96%). An improvement was noticed by 36% of these patients, steady state by 48%, and worsening in 16%. Among 25 patients suffering from idiopathic Raynaud's disease, 25% improved and 12% worsened. Among 12 patients suffering from scleroderma, 7 worsened (4 deaths) and there was no improvement in the others. In patients suffering from secondary Raynaud's phenomenon, no systemic disease appeared during the follow-up period. The profile of Raynaud's phenomenon which is going to worsen is characterized by an abnormal Allen test, digital necrosis, age over 60 years and Raynaud's disease of more than 1 year's standing.