The effects of peripheral cold exposure on oesophageal motility in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and Raynaud's phenomenon.

The effects of peripheral cold exposure on oesophageal motility were studied in 14 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. They were divided into two groups: 9 with and 5 without Raynaud's phenomenon. The statistical comparison of these two groups did not reveal any difference in the way they manometrically reacted during and after the cold exposure. We conclude that the oesophageal dysfunction in Raynaud's phenomenon may not be of neurogenic origin.