Vasoneuroses

The term vasoneuroses comprises functional disorders of peripheral vessels, in particular arterioles, manifested by vasospasms on the periphery of the upper and lower extremities, more rarely the nose and ears. The main representant of these diseases is a disorder manifested by episodic attacks of ischaemia of the fingers, in particular of the upper extremities--Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) which has two forms: primary RP (Raynaud's disease) where no other basic disease is diagnoses during a two-year period. secondary RP (Raynaud's phenomenon) as an associated symptom of other, in particular systemic diseases. The etiology and pathology of Raynaud's phenomenon has not been elucidated satisfactorily so far. With regard to the variety and scope of detected functional and morphological abnormalities RP is rather multifactorial, caused by an unbalanced action of local and systemic factors affecting the sensitivity of the vascular wall to spastic stimuli. Treatment therefore remains symptomatic. It is restricted to administration of vasodilatating agents, in more severe cases sympathectomy is considered; it is important to rule out another basic disease. Vasoneuroses include also acrocyanosis, livedo reticularis and erythromelalgia. In the case of erythromelalgia it is important to rule out secondary causes (hypertension and polycythemia vera), otherwise it is not necessary to use pharmacological means to influence these diseases because of their relatively harmless course.