Raynaud's Disease Health Article

PERIODICALS

Brand, F. N., M. G. Larson, W. B. Kannel, and J. M. McGuirk. "The Occurrence of Raynaud's Phenomenon in a General Population: the Framingham Study." Vascular Medicine 2, no. 4 (November 1997): 296-301.

Fraenkel, L., et al. "Different Factors Influencing the Expression of Raynaud's Phenomenon in Men and Women." Arthritis and Rheumatology 42, no. 2 (February 1999): 306-310.

Voulgari, P. V., et al. "Prevalence of Raynaud's Phenomenon in a Healthy Greek Population." Annals of Rheumatic disease 59, no. 3 (March 2000): 206-210.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Heart Association. 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231-4596. (214) 373-6300 or (800) 242-8721. <inquire@heart.org.> <http://www.americanheart.org>.

Irish Raynaud's and Scleroderma Society. PO Box 2958 Foxrock, Dublin 18, Ireland. (01) 235 0900. <irss@indigo.ie>.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. PO Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105. (301) 592-8573. <nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov.> <http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov>.

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). PO Box 8923, New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923. (203) 746-6518 or (800) 999-6673. Fax: (203) 746-6481. <http://www.rarediseases.org>.

Raynaud's & Scleroderma Association (UK). 112 Crewe Road, Alsager, Cheshire, ST7 2JA. UK (44) (0) 1270 872776. <webmaster@raynauds.demon.co.uk>. <http://www.raynauds.demon.co.uk>.

OTHER

Arthritis Foundation. <http//www.arthritis-foundation.com/>.

British Sjögren's Syndrome Association. <http://ourworld.copmpuserve.com/homepages/BSSAssociation>.

Raynaud's & Scleroderma Association. <http://www.Raunaud's.demon.co,uk/>.

Rodriguez, J., and S. Wasson. "Raynaud's Disease." Wayne State University School of Medicine. <http://www.med.wayne.edu/raynauds/>.

L. Fleming Fallon, Jr., MD, PhD, DrPH

KEY TERMS

Arteriole—The smallest type of artery.

Artery—A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to peripheral tissues.

Gangrene—Death of a tissue, usually caused by insufficient blood supply and followed by bacterial infection of the tissue.

Idiopathic—Of unknown origin.

Polymyositis—An inflammation of many muscles.

Pulmonary hypertension—A severe form of high blood pressure caused by diseased arteries in the lung.

Rheumatoid arthritis—Chronic, autoimmune disease marked by inflammation of the membranes surrounding joints.

Scleroderma—A relatively rare autoimmune disease affecting blood vessels and connective tissue that makes skin appear thickened.

Systemoc lupus erythematosus—A chronic inflammatory disease that affects many tissues and parts of the body including the skin.