Estrogen receptor and the gender bias in Raynaud's phenomenon.

Abstract

Cold-induced vasoconstriction is a normal physiological reaction aiming at redirecting blood into internal more vital body organs [1]. It is mediated by sympathetic release of norepinephrine as well as by local effectors in vasculature [2, 3]. However, when this vasoconstriction is exaggerated, it leads to a pathological condition termed Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) [4, 5]). Clinically, RP is categorized into primary RP or secondary RP [5, 6]. While secondary RP is due to an underlying disease such as scleroderma or cancer, primary RP is idiopathic [6-8]. RP patients suffer from vasospastic attacks and triple colour change and even ulcerations at the level of the digits [9].