Retrospective view of primary Raynaud's phenomenon in childhood.

OBJECTIVES: Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) manifests as episodes of transient spasms of peripheral blood vessels. To elucidate the clinical clues and laboratory characteristics will facilitate the identification of PRP.

METHODS: A retrospective data collection of clinical and laboratory characteristics of 58 children with PRP was performed between January 2007 and December 2016.

RESULTS: A positive ANA test at lower titers <1:100 was detected in 24.1% of the patients. There was a significant relationship between presence of ANA positivity and migraine in female patients with PRP (p=0.01; p=0.020 respectively). The most common accompanying disorder was migraine which was detected in 37.9% of all patients with PRP. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were significantly lower in PRP patients with migraine (p=0.045; p<0.05, respectively). Additionally, the mean platelet volume (MPV) measurements were significantly higher in patients with migraine compared to those without migraine (p=0.045; p<0.05 respectively).

DISCUSSION: There is limited data concerning childhood PRP. For the first time we showed a high frequency of migraine in childhood PRP. Anemia and high MPV could be the underlying triggering factors of these two episodic diseases.