Article Text
Abstract
We report a case of Raynaud’s phenomenon in a patient with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). A middle-aged right-handed housewife presented with complaints of severely painful hand discolouration for 1 week, which usually worsened with cold exposure. She was diagnosed with PsA 6 months earlier. Her PsA was well controlled with weekly methotrexate. Physical examination showed no features of scleroderma or skin necrosis of her right hand. Both radial pulses were strong and symmetrical. Her nailfolds were visibly normal. The extractable nuclear antigen panel and other blood investigations were negative for scleroderma and other possible causes of secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon. Occupational or environmental factors were also excluded. Dermatoscope examination of the nailfolds revealed some areas of dilated capillary loops, areas of vascular sparing and proximal nail fold telangiectasia. The diagnosis of secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon was made, and an oral calcium channel blocker was started. The patient had significant improvement in symptoms shortly afterwards.
- Rheumatology
- Dermatology
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Footnotes
Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting the text, sourcing and editing clinical images, investigating results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms and critical revision for important intellectual content: JAL and MJCR. The following authors gave final approval of the manuscript: WSWG.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.
Competing interests None declared.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.