Hand warming as a treatment for Raynaud's phenomenon in systemic sclerosis.

Twelve patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) due to systemic sclerosis (SS) warmed their hands for 5 min in hand hot water every 4 h throughout the day during alternate weeks of a 6-week study. There was a statistically significant decrease in the number and duration of Raynaud's attacks in the weeks in which warming was performed compared with the intervening weeks. An increase in blood flow as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry accompanied clinical improvement. Simple hand warming appears to be effective in the management of RP in patients with SS.