Familial aggregation of primary Raynaud's disease

To determine the occurrence of familial aggregation of primary Raynaud's disease.

Twenty-three patients with primary Raynaud's disease and their first-degree relatives were assessed by questionnaire and, when possible, by physical examination. The same procedures were performed on the patients' spouses and the spouses' first-degree relatives, who served as the control group.

The prevalence of Raynaud's disease was significantly higher in the families of the probands than in the control families when assessed by questionnaire (26.1% versus 5.5%; P < 10(-5)), and by physical examination (11.2% versus 2.8%; P = 0.015).

These findings demonstrate that there is significant familial aggregation of primary Raynaud's disease.