A 40-year-old woman presents with bilateral pain and colour changes in the fingers on exposure to cold. She has no digital ulcerations, no Raynaud's phenomenon secondary features, and nailfold capillaries appear normal on capillaroscopy. Antinuclear antibody is negative. What is the most likely diagnosis?

• A Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon due to systemic sclerosis
• B Buerger's disease
• C Thoracic outlet syndrome
• D Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (Raynaud's disease) ✓

Explanation

Primary Raynaud's phenomenon occurs in young women without underlying connective tissue disease, has normal nailfold capillaries, negative autoantibodies, and no tissue necrosis. Secondary Raynaud's is associated with abnormal capillaroscopy, positive ANA, digital ulcers, and onset after age 30. The absence of these features makes primary Raynaud's the diagnosis.

Reference: Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.