Raynaud

    
      Re: Raynaud
    


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Posted by ccf neuro M.D. on May 11, 1997 at 16:56:35:

In Reply to: Raynaud posted by Jerry Kaufman on May 04, 1997 at 16:45:44:

: At the same time my daughter was diagnosed with Raynaud's syndrome, she has also had some episodes of falling and dizziness.  Should we be looking at something else which may also be related to the Reynaud?  What kind of doctor should we start with, vascular or neurologic?
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Raynaud's phenomenon is caused by intense constriction of the smallest blood vessels in the hands (and sometimes feet), triggered most often by exposure to cold but sometimes other things. It is most often seen in association with so called "collagen vascular diseases" or "connective tissue diseases" such as lupus, for instance. Such diseases can affect the nervous system and brain as well as most other organs in the body, although dizziness and faintness are very nonspecific symptoms that may be secondary to a wide variety of causes, most of which are actually NOT neurologic. I would recommend your starting off with a RHEUMATOLOGIST, as these doctors specialize in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon and connective tissue diseases. If your daughter contiunes to experience the lightheadedness, or, more importantly if she develops any signs of paralysis/weakness, persistent numbness, trouble with her vision, speaking, or swallowing, or walking, it would be important to see a neurologist and, in fact, were    
this to happen suddenly, I would bring her to the nearest emergency room immediately. If your daughter is young, pediatric neurologists and rheumatologists do exist but are hard to come by. If you are near the Cleveland area, the Cleveland Clinic appointment line is 1-800-223-2273. They could connect you to rheumatology.