The origin of Raynaud's phenomenon.

107 patients presenting Raynaud's phenomenon attacks were studied. It has been demonstrated by means of arteriographies that in pallid phase of Raynaud's phenomenon attacks not only the digital but also the radial ulnar and interosseous arteries are in spasm. In the cyanotic phase of Raynaud's phenomenon the natural arteriovenous anastomoses are widely open bringing about peripheral skin ischemia. On the assumption that the opening of arteriovenous anastomoses in Raynaud's phenomenon attacks is due to injury of that part of the peripheral nerve which lies in contact with the cervical vertebral column all 107 studied patients were submitted to detailed cervical vertebral column X-ray examinations. In 103 patients i.e. in 96.3% characteristic degenerative changes of cervical vertebrae were recognised. In 100 controls who never had neither Raynaud's phenomenon attacks nor cervico-brachial neuritis the same type of degenerative changes were found in 10% only. The authors presume that the Raynaud's phenomenon attacks are due to peripheral mixed nerve or their roots injury. The blue phase of Raynaud's phenomenon attacks is due to opening of arteriovenous anastomoses.