Raynaud ’ s Phenomenon

terized by one or more fingers becoming blanched, cyanotic, and red (often in that order), upon an individual’s exposure to cold stimuli or emotional stress.1 These color changes are attributable to several factors; however, they mainly result from vasospasms of the digital arteries. The disorder occurs fairly commonly and can have a variety of other presentations, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain in the affected fingers. It can eventually lead to ulcerations, tissue necrosis, and gangrene. This article reviews the history behind the first description of Raynaud’s phenomenon and discusses classification of the disorder. The article also reviews issues relating to the disorder’s pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.