A pilot study to evaluate treatment efficacy in patients with primary Raynaud´s phenomenon

*Aneta Dąbek¹, Janusz Domaniecki¹, Marek Wielochowski², Jan Gajewski¹

Summary
Aim.The aim of the study was to evaluate the objective and subjective efficacy of the following treatments for patients with primary Raynaud´s phenomenon: drug (medication) therapy, physical therapy (infrared sauna) and relaxation (Schultz autogenic training).
Material and method. The study involved 29 outpatients with a diagnosis of primary Raynaud´s phenomenon treated at Warsaw Medical University´s Department of Dermatology. The patients were randomised into four groups receiving drug therapy (controls), relaxation therapy, physical therapy and multimodal (comprehensive) therapy. Treatment was administered for 14 weeks in all groups. All patients were evaluated three times: before starting treatment (baseline) (1), and after 7 (2) and 14 (3) weeks of treatment. The following quantitative data were obtained:
– incidence of manifestations of primary Raynaud´s phenomenon (questionnaire)
– subjective evaluation of pain and sweating (VAS scale)
– subjective impression of treatment efficacy (VAS scale)
– evaluation of microcirculation by capillaroscopy before and after treatment (two evaluations).
Results. The highest subjective and objective treatment efficacy was reported in the multimodal therapy group and the lowest in the drug therapy group. The relaxation therapy group demonstrated a significant decrease in the incidence of ischaemic attacks without significant differences with respect to the other parameters (pain, sweating) between the first and third assessments.
Conclusions. The study ought to be continued with a larger group of patients involved.

To jest tylko fragment artykułu. Aby przeczytać całość, przejdź do Czytelni medycznej.