Evaluation of Primary and Secondary Raynaud’s Phenomenon in Childhood

Objective: To evaluate the clinical, laboratory and capillaroscopic findings of pediatric patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon. Material and Methods: Ninety-five pediatric patients who were diagnosed with Raynaud’s phenomenon between January 2014 and January 2021, were retrospectively examined. The demographic data, laboratory parameters and capillaroscopic findings of the patients were recorded. The capillaroscopic findings of the patients were classified as normal, nonspecific abnormalities and scleroderma pattern. Results: Primary Raynaud’s phenomenon was present in 84 (88.5%) patients, and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon was present in 11 (11.5%). Arthralgia, arthritis, rash and recurrent fever were significantly more common in secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon (p=0.001, p=<0.001, p=0.01, p=0.035, respectively). Antinuclear antibody positivity >1/320 was significantly higher in the patients with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon (p=0.01). Of the 40 patients who had capillaroscopy performed, 2 had a scleroderma pattern, 19 had nonspecific changes, and 19 had normal nailfold capillaroscopic findings. Capillary irregularity, tortuous capillaries and increased branching were significantly higher in the secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon cases (p=0.015, p=0.015, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Having antinuclear antibody titer >1/320 and detection of capillary irregularity, tortuous capillaries and increased branching may be useful in distinguishing primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon.