Long-term outcome of primary Raynaud's phenomenon and its conversion to connective tissue disease: a 12-year retrospective patient analysis

Objectives: To determine the frequency of development of connective tissue disease (CTD) in patients considered to have idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon ( RP) >10 years. Patients and methods: Based on initial evaluation, 113 women and 29 men were divided into either 'primary RP' (n = 109) or 'possible secondary RP' (n = 33) groups and were re-evaluated after a median follow-up period of 12.4 years. Results: Overall 20 patients (14.1%) progressed to a definite CTD; 10 from 'primary RP' (9.2%) and 10 from 'possible secondary RP' (30.3%). Initial presence of antinuclear antibodies, thickening of fingers, higher age at onset of RP, and female sex seemed to be important determinants for a possible transition to a CTD. Conclusion: In RP-patients, who are at risk of development of a CTD, serial clinical and laboratory controls are warranted for the decision to initiate therapy early.