The evolution particularities of Raynaud’s syndrome

Abstract

Introduction. Raynaud’s Syndrome is caused by vasospasm of the small vessels of the fingers, toes, nose, chin, ears, and other protruding parts of the body, triggered by cold and/or emotional stress. It consists of two or three phases (bi- or triphasic) characterized by an initial blanching (ischemia), followed by cyanosis (anoxia) and rubor (reperfusion). The medical importance of Raynaud’s syndrome (RS) is to a large extent determined by whether it is a reflection of an underlying autoimmune rheumatic or connective tissue disease as Systemic Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arhtritis. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and the particularities of Raynaud’s syndrome in patients with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in Republic of Moldova.Material and methods.We performed a retrospective study, in which were included 150 patients who were hospitalized in the Rheumatology department of Republican Clinical Hospital, during the years 2013-2015: 50 (49 women) of them with SSc, 50 (44 women) with SLE and another 50 (45 women) with RA. The average age of the patients with SSc was 44,5 ± 18 years, with SLE – 38 ± 13 years and with AR – 39 ± 8 years.Conclusion. The prevalence of secondary RS depends upon the underlying disease. RS secondary to autoimmune disease are more common in women than in men. In SSc the evolution of RS depends on the anti-centromere and anti-Scl70 antibodies.The triphasic feature of RS in SSc was found in only 11,1% patients. RS appears to develop relatively soon after RA and SLE diagnosis in the majority of cases.