What is Raynaud's phenomenon?

What is Raynaud's phenomenon?

• A. Excessively reduced blood flow in response to cold or emotional stress, causing discoloration of the fingers, toes, and occasionally other areas.
• B. An inflammation of the blood vessels that causes changes in the blood vessel walls.
• C. "Cold hives" is an allergy where hives form after exposure to cold stimulus.
• D. A nerve compression syndrome affecting the extremities.

Answer: (A)

Raynaud's phenomenon is episodes of excessive vasoconstriction in the small arteries of the fingers and toes in response to cold or emotional stress, leading to color changes in the skin. An attack typically progresses from white (ischemia) to blue (deoxygenation) and then red as blood flow returns, and may be accompanied by numbness or tingling. It results from vasospasm rather than inflammation of the vessel walls, and it can occur on its own (primary) or with an underlying condition such as scleroderma or lupus (secondary). The other descriptions point to different conditions—vasculitis involves vessel wall inflammation, cold urticaria is an allergic reaction to cold, and nerve compression is a mechanical issue—so the vasospastic pattern best fits Raynaud's.

Raynaud's phenomenon is episodes of excessive vasoconstriction in the small arteries of the fingers and toes in response to cold or emotional stress, leading to color changes in the skin. An attack typically progresses from white (ischemia) to blue (deoxygenation) and then red as blood flow returns, and may be accompanied by numbness or tingling. It results from vasospasm rather than inflammation of the vessel walls, and it can occur on its own (primary) or with an underlying condition such as scleroderma or lupus (secondary). The other descriptions point to different conditions—vasculitis involves vessel wall inflammation, cold urticaria is an allergic reaction to cold, and nerve compression is a mechanical issue—so the vasospastic pattern best fits Raynaud's.