How Is Raynaud's Disease Diagnosed?

Raynaud's is usually diagnosed based on a patient's history of experiencing color changes in their extremities in response to exposure to cold or emotional stress. A cold simulation test also may be used to provoke symptoms for the doctor to see.

Doctors use the patient's history of symptoms, a physical exam, and diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions that might act like Raynaud's.

Specialists Involved

A rheumatologist (roo-ma-TOL-o-jist) is a doctor who specializes in treating disorders of the joints, bones, and muscles. Often, a rheumatologist diagnoses and treats patients with Raynaud's, but internists and family practice doctors also are able to diagnose and treat Raynaud's.

Diagnostic Tests and Procedures

To help diagnose Raynaud's, doctors may do a cold simulation test. This test can trigger an attack that is typical of the disorder. They also may do tests for inflammatory disorders that damage blood vessels or nerves. Having these conditions along with Raynaud's symptoms makes it more likely that a patient has secondary Raynaud's disease.

In the cold simulation test, temperature sensors are taped to the fingers of the hand. The hand is then briefly exposed to the cold, usually by dunking it in ice water. If the patient likely has Raynaud's, it will take more than the normal time for the finger temperature to return to what it was at the start of the test.

Doctors also may do a test called a nailfold capillaroscopy (KAP-i-lar-OS-ko-pe). For this test, the doctor puts a drop of oil on the skin at the base of the fingernail and then looks at it under a microscope. If the doctor sees abnormal looking blood vessels, this suggests an inflammatory disorder such as scleroderma.

Doctors also can use two specific blood tests to look for inflammatory conditions: the antinuclear antibody test and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate.