Raynaud’s Syndrome and Disease is a disorder that affects small blood vessels in your fingers and toes that can cause episodic spasms or vasospastic attacks in response to cold temperatures and stress. During these Raynaud’s attacks small blood vessels tighten causing the skin in the affected areas to turn white and then blue from lack of oxygen. As the attack subsides the skin may turn red and feel tingly. During a Raynaud’s Evaluation, the technologist will take your blood pressure at various places along your affected extremity and then pass a risk-free, painless non-invasive ultrasound transducer (probe or wand) over several places along the limb(s) to evaluate the quality of blood flow. Infrared sensors might also be placed on the fingers/toes of interest to further evaluate the blood flow at the skin surface. This will all be done with the hands/feet at room temperature and then again while submerged in ice water to observe the response to cold temperature exposure.
Indications
- Suspected Raynaud’s Syndrome (numbness/coldness in the fingers or toes)
Patient Preparation
No patient preparation is needed.
