INTRODUCTION
Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a reversible vasospastic disorder that may
be provoked by cold or emotional stress. RP involves extremity arteries
and presented with ischemic symptoms of extremities 1. RP can be preliminary finding of some diseases and called as secondary
RP (sRP). This disorder can be related with traumas or micro-traumas
(prolonged usage of vibratory tools), exposure of some chemicals and
auto immune rheumatic or connective tissue diseases (such as systemic
sclerosis). If it is progressed it can be resulted with digital ulcers
or micro-amputations 1-3 . However, RP can be occur
without underlying disease or unknown etiology which named as primary RP
(pRP). This sort of pRP commonly littered with atmospheric condition and
therefore the symptoms reliefs dramatically when exposure to the cause
is removed 4,5 . In primary type, there is no
autoimmunity associated marker or reaction. Therefore, a comprehensive
anamnesis should be taken and physical and laboratory examination should
be made in every case with RP and after excluding suspected pathologies
the RP are often classified as primary type 1,5 .
The essential finding of pRP is aggravation of symptoms by exposure cold
and the detection of color changes (turn white, blue, or both). The
diagnosis is clarified after exclusion of possible underlying diseases
with checking nail capillaroscopy and laboratory panel such as complete
blood counting, inflammatory parameters, metabolic panel, antibodies,
enzymes etc. Avoiding contact with cold and stress is suggested for
these patients. Lifestyle changes such as reducing smoking and caffeine
use are important. Additionally, some medications can be applied1-5 . However, some patients have borderline symptoms
without physical findings like sort of a feeling of cold within the
extremities. In this patient group, management is harder because no
finding apart from anamnesis has been determined, and no parameter has
been defined for possible suspicion 6,7 . Especially,
an abnormal capillaroscopic finding for differentiation of RP is
discriminative for secondary RP. Thus, nailfold capillaroscopy is losing
potential predictor role for pRP.
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible predictors for
pRP. Therefore, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), routine blood markers,
and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) levels were compared
between pRP patients and healthy individuals.