Plasmapheresis in Raynaud's disease.

Understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical course, and treatment of Raynaud's disease is confused and unsatisfactory, and no success in treatment can be promised. Five patients with severe Raynaud's disease, who had not responded to other forms of treatment, were treated by plasmapheresis, which produced a striking improvement. Ultrasonic velocimetry showed that segments of digital arteries which had been thought to be permanently occluded became patent and remained patent after plasmapheresis.