Thermal feedback in Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus: long-term remission of target symptoms.

Thermal feedback shows promise when applied to Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A female subject was followed over an 8-year period that included initial training, 1-year follow-up, and 8-year follow-up. Peripheral circulation was initially very poor, as evidenced by low basal fingertip temperatures and trophic lesions at the fingernails. An intensive 5-week training regimen in thermal self-regulation yielded evidence of hand warming, followed by an increase in basal finger temperature. Reported vasospasms were markedly reduced and the lesions healed in the ensuing weeks. As of the 1-year follow-up, the skill was intact. Symptoms remained in substantial remission throughout the 8-year period during which the subject practiced somatic relaxation and hand warming without electronic feedback. Objective temperature measurement at the 8-year juncture yielded results similar to the initial acquisition, gradual manifestation of control over the first 4 days. The subject also reported diminution of vascular headache, another symptom of SLE. While much of the biofeedback literature is focused on stress-related disease, research of this kind affirms the value of self-regulatory technique in illnesses whose causes are primarily physical.