Raynaud’s phenomenon /rānōz″/ [Maurice Raynaud, French physician, 1834–1881] , intermittent attacks of ischemia of the extremities of the body, especially the fingers, toes, ears, and nose, caused by exposure to cold or by emotional stimuli. ▪ OBSERVATIONS: The attacks are characterized by severe blanching of the extremities, followed by cyanosis, then redness; they are usually accompanied by numbness, tingling, burning, and often pain. Normal color and sensation are restored by heat. The attacks usually occur secondary to such conditions as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thoracic outlet syndrome, drug intoxications, dysproteinemia, myxedema, primary pulmonary hypertension, and trauma. ▪ INTERVENTIONS: Therapy for the secondary form depends on recognition and treatment of the underlying disease. Idiopathic forms, which occur most frequently in young women 18 to 30 years of age, may be controlled by protecting the body and extremities from the cold, by the use of mild sedatives and vasodilators, and by avoiding smoking. Biofeedback techniques are useful in training the client to increase the temperature of the affected extremity, ears, or nose. Drug therapy can also relieve symptoms. ▪ PATIENT CARE CONSIDERATIONS: The condition is called Raynaud’s disease when there is a history of symptoms for at least 2 years with no progression of symptoms and no evidence of an underlying cause.
