The value of high-frequency (20 MHz) pulsed Doppler in the evaluation of digital blood flow among patients with Raynaud's phenomenon

Authors evaluated 134 RP patients and 64 healthy volunteers analysing the morphological shape of the blood flow spectrum and the flow parameters using a high-frequency pulsed Doppler. Comparative analysis showed, that the digital artery flow among RP patients differs from that of control group, but is not uniform. Occlusive flow (typical in occlusive artery disease) was found in 53 (39,6%) of patients, high-resistant flow was seen among 52(38,8%) of patients. 29 (21,6%) of patients had the same digital flow, as the controls. Occlusive disease was seen in 81,2% (18 of 22) of scleroderma patients, while only in 18,5% (4 of 27) of vibration disease patients. Authors verified the results applying clusters analysis. They conclude, that high-frequency Doppler is a valuable tool in assessing dynamic changes of digital flow and in diagnosing occlusive digital vessel disease - a particularly important prognostic factor in systemic scleroderma disease.