Raynaud Phenomenon Workup

  • Author: Heather Hansen-Dispenza, MD; Chief Editor: Herbert S Diamond, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 22, 2011
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Complete blood cell count - To evaluate for polycythemic disorders, underlying malignancies, or autoimmune disorders
  • Blood urea nitrogen - To evaluate for possible renal impairment or dehydration
  • Creatinine - To evaluate for possible renal impairment
  • Prothrombin time - To observe for any evidence of hepatic dysfunction
  • Activated partial thromboplastin time - To observe for any evidence of antiphospholipid antibody disorder or hepatic dysfunction
  • Serum glucose - To evaluate patient for diabetic disease
  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone - To observe for thyroid disorders
  • Optional laboratory tests
    • Antinuclear antibody - May be positive in autoimmune disorders and should be obtained in patients with features of these disorders
    • Serum viscosity - Elevated in hyperviscosity syndromes such as paraproteinemias
    • Serum creatine kinase - Elevated in muscle damage such as polymyositis and dermatomyositis
    • Rheumatoid factor - May be elevated in rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune disorders, and some forms of cryoglobulinemia (monoclonal proteins in multiple myeloma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia have an increased frequency of rheumatoid factor activity)
    • Hepatitis panel - Positive for B or C infection in many patients with cryoglobulinemia
    • Cold agglutinins - Present in Mycoplasma infections and lymphomas
    • Heavy metal screen - To observe for patients with neuropathic pain due to poisoning
    • Growth hormone - To evaluate for acromegaly
    • Serum vanillylmandelic acid - To evaluate for pheochromocytoma
    • Metanephrine - To observe for pheochromocytoma in appropriate patients
    • Catecholamines - To observe for pheochromocytoma
    • Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase - To evaluate for leukemias in appropriate patients
    • Antiphospholipid antibodies studies - Including dilute Russell viper venom studies, anticardiolipin antibodies, and anti-beta-1-glycoprotein-2 antibodies
    • Serum protein and urine electrophoresis - To evaluate for paraproteinemias
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Imaging Studies

  • Thermography, isotope studies, and arteriography have all been used, but none has proven superior to clinical assessment in office practice.
  • A fixed, nonreversible, cyanotic lesion requires further evaluation of the vasculature.
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Other Tests

  • Acid hemolysis test
  • Sucrose lysis test
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Procedures

  • Measurement of digital blood pressures before and after immersion in cold water (The difference should be less than 30 mm Hg.).
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Proceed to Treatment & Management
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Heather Hansen-Dispenza, MD  Rheumatology Fellow, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Heather Hansen-Dispenza, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

S Anita Narayanan, MD  Fellow in Rheumatology, University of Arizona College of Medicine

S Anita Narayanan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey R Lisse, MD, FACP  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Chief, Section of Rheumatology, University of Arizona School of Medicine

Jeffrey R Lisse, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American College of Rheumatology, American Geriatrics Society, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; Centacor Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis Consulting fee Review panel membership

Mayra Oberto-Medina, DO  Fellow, Section of Rheumatology, University of Arizona

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

John Varga, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Northwestern University

John Varga, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, Central Society for Clinical Research, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Elliot Goldberg, MD  Dean of the Western Pennsylvania Clinical Campus, Professor, Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine

Elliot Goldberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP  Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Herbert S Diamond, MD  Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Chairman Emeritus, Department of Internal Medicine, Western Pennsylvania Hospital

Herbert S Diamond, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American College of Rheumatology, American Medical Association, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Merck Ownership interest Other; Smith Kline Ownership interest Other; Zimmer Ownership interest Other

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A 9-year-old with Raynaud phenomenon. Notice the discoloration of the fingers.
Photo of a patient with Raynaud phenomenon that resulted from working with a jackhammer. Courtesy of the CDC.
 
 
 
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