ABSTRACT
Raynaud's phenomenos is a common paroxysmal vasomotor disorder. It must be distinguised between those with a functional character- primary phenomenon or Raynaud's disease and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon or syndrome. In our study the highest incidence (81 por ciento) corresponds to patients with secondary Raynaud's syndrome; 58 por ciento of these patients showed capillary microscopy alterations and 64 por ciento were ANA test positive, showing those numbers their sensibility and specificity since primary Raynaudïs and healthy control patients did not show these figures. The clear prevalencxe of specific capillary microscopy alterations in secondary Raynaud's patients schow that this technique is very useful in the differential diagnosis between primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Serial capillaroscopy studies must then be performed to diagnose connective tissue diseases. Nailfold capillary microscopy is a very usefuld and easy complementary technique; it offers great help and also is of prognostic value in patient with Raynaud's phenomenon or connwctive tissue diseases, together with the clinical and laboratory studies contributes for the early diagnosis of these disorders