Raynaud's phenomenon in the occupational context

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To review articles that evaluated the prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon of occupational origin. METHODS The search for articles was carried out in the Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Latin America and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (Lilacs) databases. RESULTS 64 articles were obtained from the electronic search; 18 articles met the eligibility criteria. All studies discussed the exposure to vibrations in the upper limbs. In 6 of them, the thermal issue was directly or indirectly addressed. No studies have addressed exposure to vinyl chloride. CONCLUSIO In general, a higher prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon was found among vibratory tool operators compared to non-exposed workers, with an increase in the number of cases the higher the level of vibration and the time of exposure. Cold is a triggering and aggravating factor of the Raynaud phenomenon and seems to play an important role in the emergence of vascular manifestations of the hand-arm vibration syndrome.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Realizar um estudo de revisão dos artigos que avaliaram a prevalência do fenômeno de Raynaud de origem ocupacional. MÉTODOS A busca pelos artigos foi realizada nas bases de dados Medline (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO) e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs). RESULTADOS Sessenta e quatro artigos foram obtidos a partir da busca eletrônica, dos quais 18 cumpriram os critérios de elegibilidade. Todos os estudos discutiram sobre a exposição a vibrações localizadas em membros superiores. Em seis deles, a questão térmica foi direta ou indiretamente abordada. Nenhum estudo abordou a exposição ao cloreto de vinila. CONCLUSÃO De maneira geral, constatou-se maior prevalência do fenômeno de Raynaud entre operadores de ferramentas vibratórias em comparação aos não expostos, com aumento do número de casos quanto maior o nível de vibração e tempo de exposição. O frio é fator desencadeante e agravante do fenômeno de Raynaud e parece exercer papel importante para o surgimento das manifestações vasculares da síndrome de vibração de mãos e braços.

Manifestaciones mucocutáneas del lupus eritematoso sistémico en pacientes adultos chilenos / Cutaneous manifestations of lupus erythematosus in Chilean adults

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la prevalencia de lesiones mucocutáneas en pacientes adultos con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (LES). Se incluyó a 110 pacientes. El 52,7 por ciento de los participantes presentaron manifestaciones cutáneas como presentación inicial de LES. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los pacientes con manifestaciones cutáneas como presentación inicial de la enfermedad y los pacientes sin manifestaciones cutáneas, en relación a la proporción mujeres/hombres, edad de presentación de los síntomas de LES, edad de diagnóstico de LES e intervalo de tiempo entre la aparición de los primeros síntomas y el diagnóstico de la enfermedad. La prevalencia de manifestaciones mucocutáneas fue de 87,2 por ciento. Los hallazgos más frecuentes fueron fotosensibilidad, eritema malar y fenómeno de Raynaud. Un 40 por ciento de los pacientes presentó lesiones específicas agudas, un 1,8 por ciento, lesiones subagudas y un 15,3 por ciento, lesiones crónicas. Un 84,5 por ciento de los pacientes mostró lesiones inespecíficas. En comparación a series extranjeras, registramos una mayor prevalencia de fotosensibilidad y livedo reticularis y una menor prevalencia de lupus cutáneo subagudo, lupus discoide, alopecia, úlceras orales, vasculitis y úlceras cutáneas crónicas.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the prevalence of mucocutaneous lesions in adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We enrolled 110 patients. Cutaneous manifestations were present as the first sign of SLE in 52.7 percent of patients. We found no statistical difference between patients with cutaneous manifestations as the initial finding of the disease and patients without cutaneous manifestations, regarding sex, age at initial symptoms of SLE, age at the diagnosis of SLE and period of time between first symptoms and the diagnosis of SLE. Prevalence of cutaneous manifestations was 87.2 percent. The most common findings were photosensitivity, malar erythema and Raynaud s phenomenon. Specific acute lesions were present in 40 percent of the cases, subacute lesions in 1.8 percent and chronic lesions in 15.3 percent. Non specific lesions were present in 84.5 percent of the cases. In the present study we found a higher prevalence of photosensitivity and livedo reticularis, and a lower prevalence of cutaneous subacute lupus, discoid lupus, alopecia, oral ulcers, vasculitis and chronic cutaneous ulcers, compared with international results.

On the Health Status of Workers Using Vibrating Tools in Anthracite Mines

By implementing epoch-making policies of industrial promotion, the national economy has made a remarkable development. As a result of such economic growth, industrial accidents and occupational diseases have become a serious problem in Korean society. In the presidential order for the execution of the Korean labor standard law, neuritis and other diseases stemming from health impairments due to vibration in industrial processes are designated to be dealt with as vibration diseases. In the case of vibration disease, industrial accident compensation is not effectively paid. In order to investigate vibration hazards of rock-drill operators, the author studied subjective symptoms and did physical function tests on a total of 208 persons (vibration exposed group), who used rock-drills, and 115 persons (control group) who are not using rock-drills at anthracite mines. The results of physical function test are as follows. 1. There is no difference in smoking habits between the vibration exposure group and the control group. 2. In the use of their ear plugs, both the vibration exposed group and the control group showed a low tendency in using the ear plugs. 3. In the prevalence rate of white finger, the vibration exposed group reached 12.5 percent, but only 0.9 percent in the control group. Thus, both groups showed different rates in the initiation of their illness (p < 0.01). 4. The prevalence rate of finger numbness for the vibration exposed group was 23.1 percent, but only 9.6 percent in control group (p < 0.05). 5. In the prevalence rate of insomnia, the vibration exposed group had 22.6 percent and the control group 9.6 percent. Thus, the vibration exposure group showed a higher rate than the control group (p < 0.05). 6. In the vibration sense threshold, the vibration exposed group showed a statistically higher level than the control group (p < 0.01). 7. In the mean value of skin temperature, the control group was higher than the vibration exposed group (p < 0.05). 8. In the amount of perspiration, the exposed group measured higher than the control group (p < 0.01).