Is Raynaud's phenomenon a type of vasculitis?
Disease description:
Recently, our community organized a medical knowledge outreach event, where I learned about Raynaud's phenomenon and vasculitis. I'm wondering: Is Raynaud's phenomenon a type of vasculitis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Aihua
Raynaud's phenomenon is not vasculitis. Raynaud's phenomenon is a condition characterized by spasms of the small arteries in the extremities due to vascular neurogenic dysfunction, whereas vasculitis is a symptom caused by conditions such as malignancies or autoimmune diseases; the two are unrelated. For Raynaud's phenomenon, patients are advised to be treated with vasodilating drugs, calcium channel blockers, and medications that reduce sympathetic nervous system activity.
