American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
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Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. · Aug 2011
Impaired transient vasodilation and increased vasoconstriction to digital local cooling in primary Raynaud's phenomenon.
Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is defined as episodic ischemia of the extremities in response to cold. Although the structure of skin capillaries is normal in primary RP, some data suggest impairment of microvascular function. We aimed at testing whether digital skin blood flow was lower in RP than in controls while cooling locally. ⋯ Topical anesthesia increased CVC in patients with RP (P = 0.05), whereas it did not affect reactivity in controls (P = 0.86). Our study shows exaggerated skin microvascular vasoconstriction to local cooling on the dorsum of the finger in primary RP compared with controls. Part of this abnormal response in primary RP depends on sensitive nerves.