Cold extremities: investigation and management of Raynaud's phenomenon.

Since Raynaud's description in 1862 of triphasic color changes in the digits, little progress has been made in diagnosis and treatment of this entity. Recent technologic advances such as laser Doppler fluxmetry and isolated cold stress testing offer promise in diagnosis and measuring response to various drugs. We review the pathophysiology and the clinical and laboratory evaluation of Raynaud's phenomenon, as well as medical and nondrug management.