Who is affected by Raynaud's phenomenon?

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Who is affected by Raynaud's phenomenon?

It is estimated that between 3% and 15% of adults are affected by one of two kinds of Raynaud's phenomenon:¹

• Primary Raynaud's (sometimes called Raynaud's disease) has no known cause and accounts for over 50% of Raynaud's cases.² This type often begins between age 20 and age 40, and it occurs most often in women.
• Secondary Raynaud's (sometimes called Raynaud's syndrome) usually causes more severe symptoms and may develop as the result of other diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, or atherosclerosis. Other causes of secondary Raynaud's include taking certain medications, using vibrating power tools for several years, smoking, or having frostbite. Secondary Raynaud's often begins after age 35, and it affects both men and women.³

Recent studies indicate that Raynaud's phenomenon is more common in children than was previously thought. One study concluded that symptoms of Raynaud's occur in children at about the same level as in adults.⁴

References

Citations

1. Wigley FM (2001). Raynaud's phenomenon. In MH Weisman et al., eds., Treatment of the Rheumatic Diseases: Companion to Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, 2nd ed., pp. 382–389. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.

2. Creager MA, Dzau VJ (2005). Raynaud's phenomenon section of Vascular diseases of the extremities. In DL Kasper et al., eds., Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 16th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1489–1490. New York: McGraw-Hill.

3. Minteer JF (2000). Raynaud's phenomenon. In RE Rakel, ed., Saunders Manual of Medical Practice, 2nd ed., pp 387–389. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.

4. Jones GT, et al. (2003). Occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon in children ages 12–15 years. Arthritis and Rheumatism, 48(12): 3518–3521.

Credits

Last updated:	July 19, 2006
Author:	Sabra L. Katz-Wise
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Terrina Vail