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How Is Raynaud’s Syndrome Classified?

Raynaud’s syndrome is classified as being one of two types: the primary or the secondary form. In medical literature, “primary Raynaud’s syndrome” may also be called Raynaud’s disease, idiopathic Raynaud’s syndrome, or primary Raynaud’s syndrome. The terms idiopathic and primary both mean that the cause is unknown.

Primary Raynaud’s Syndrome

The majority of people who have Raynaud’s syndrome have the primary form (the milder version). A person who has primary Raynaud’s syndrome has no underlying disease or associated medical problems. It is more common in women than in men, and approximately 75 percent of all cases are diagnosed in women who are between 15 and 40 years old.

Less than 9% of people wo have primary Reynauds phenomenon develop a secondary disease, such as scleroderma, which is a connective tissue disorder more closely associated with the secondary classification of Raynaud’s Syndrome.

Secondary Raynaud’s Syndrome

Secondary Raynaud’s Syndrome is a less common but more serious form of the disease. By its name, the term “secondary” means that sufferers have an underlying “primary” disease or condition that causes Raynaud’s syndrome. Connective tissue diseases are the most common cause of secondary Raynaud’s syndrome. Some of these diseases reduce blood flow to the digits by causing blood vessel walls to thicken and an exaggerated blood vessel constriction. Raynaud’s syndrome is seen in approximately 85 to 95 percent of patients with scleroderma and mixed connective tissue disease, and it is present in about one-third of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Raynaud’s syndrome also can occur in patients who have other connective tissue diseases, including Sjögren’s syndrome, dermatomyositis, and polymyositis.

Possible causes of secondary Raynaud’s syndrome, other than connective tissue diseases, are carpal tunnel syndrome and obstructive arterial disease (blood vessel disease). Some drugs, including beta-blockers (used to treat high blood pressure), ergotamine preparations (used for migraine headaches), certain agents used in cancer chemotherapy, and drugs that cause vasoconstriction (such as some over-the-counter cold medications and narcotics), are linked to Raynaud’s syndrome.

Certain types of occupations are linked to secondary Raynaud’s syndrome. For example, some workers in the plastics industry (who are exposed to vinyl chloride) develop a scleroderma-like illness, of which Raynaud’s syndrome can be a part. Workers who operate vibrating tools can develop a type of Raynaud’s syndrome called “vibration-induced white finger”

Secondary Raynaud’s syndrome can often lead to other medical problems such as skin ulcers (sores) or gangrene (tissue death) in the fingers or toes. Painful ulcers and gangrene are fairly common and can be difficult to treat. In addition, a person may experience heartburn or difficulty in swallowing caused by weakened muscle of the oesophagus (the tube that takes food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach) that can occur in people with connective tissue diseases.