Finger blood flow in healthy subjects of different age and sex and in patients with primary Raynaud's disease.

Finger blood flow measured at rest and after 3 minutes of circulatory arrest by strain gauge venous occlusion plethysmography was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in a group of 13 healthy young men than in a group of 12 healthy young women. The flow values in 13 women in the meopause reached almost the level found in men. Hormonal factors might explain these differences. Between the group of the healthy young women and the 12 patients with Raynaud's disease there were only gradual differences in finger blood flow. Peak flow after 3 minutes of circulatory arrest was significantly lower in the patients (p less than 0.05). Whereas flow at rest showed only a tendency to lower values (mean room temperature 24 degrees C). The spontaneous and cold induced vasopastic attacks characterized by a decrease in finger volume and by very low or not measurable finger flow.