# EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RAYNAUD PHENOMENON

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 1991 · $428,215

## Abstract

The overall goal of this proposal is to determine whether the
estimated prevalence, of Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and of RP
associated scleroderma spectrum disorders (SDS) derived from the
current project, are peculiar to South Carolina or have more
general validity, and more specifically to test the hypotheses that
1) RP is more prevalent in cold regions than in South Carolina, 2)
cold is one of the etiological agents, not only a triggering factor
for RP, 3) the increased prevalence (and severity) of primary RP
in cold climates accounts for most of the difference in RP
prevalence between cold and warm regions, 4) capillary microscopy
can detect those RP subjects at risk for SDS and 5) subjects with
early SDS are several times more numerous in the population than
those with classical SD.

Using the same criteria and methodology, the work will be carried
out in South Carolina and in Haute Savoie, Isere and Drome, France,
thus allowing comparisons between cold (Haute Savoie, Isere) and
warm (Drome) areas within the same country and between countries
(Drome, South Carolina) with comparable climates but different
populations.

The common specific aims are:  Phase I:  Population survey by
telephone regarding cold sensitivity followed by face-to-face
interview of all cold sensitivity positive and a random sample of
cold sensitivity negative subjects, using our newly developed RP
screening test.  Phase II:  Extended RP interview and short medical
history to detect risk factors and major disorders, confirmation
of RP diagnosis and differential diagnosis with acrocyanosis, and
detection of RP subjects at risk for SDS by capillary microscopy.
Phase III:  Clinical evaluation and laboratory studies to determine
health status and associated diseases in RP subjects and in
negative controls.  Blood sample, for immunological studies.  Phase
IV:  Physiological and microvascular studies contrasting survey
subjects with different RP subtypes.  Phase V:  Prospective cohort
study of subjects with RP alone or with early SDS disorders.

In addition, selected groups of patients, with RP alone, RP with
early SDS and definite SD will be examined in the same manner and
compared with similar diagnostic groups in the Survey (Case control
study).

The following experimental variables will be studied:  capillary
morphology, capillary blood flow, digital blood pressure, digital
blood flow, antinuclear antibodies.

The results of this study will provide information regarding
regional variations in the prevalence of RP, the differences in SDS
prevalence and the relative importance of these disorders among
the RP subjects from different regions and the usefulness of
capillary microscopy for the early detection of SDS disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156027
- **Project number:** 5R01AR031283-09
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NHV3GTWSALA7
- **Principal Investigator:** HILDEGARD R MARICQ
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $428,215
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-08-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156027

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156027, EPIDEMIOLOGY OF RAYNAUD PHENOMENON (5R01AR031283-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156027. Licensed CC0.

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