[Diagnostic value of thermography and endothelin concentration in serum of children with Raynaud's Syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: The primary Raynaud's Syndrome may occur in pubescent children, the secondary is connected with connective tissue diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of thermography and endothelin concentration in patients with Raynaud's Syndrome (RS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 49 patients aged 11 to 18 years with clinical symptoms of RS and 12 healthy children participated in the study. 17 patients had secondary and 32 primary RS. Thermography was conducted in all children. Vasomotor disturbances were diagnosed by Doppler ultrasonography. Palm temperature measurements were taken in room temperature before, directly after the cooling test and 4 minutes later. ET-1 serum concentration was tested by ELISA. RESULTS: The mean palm temperatures after the cooling test were significantly lower than in control group. (26.28 +/- 3.13C vs 30.26 +/- 1.11C p<0.001). There was no difference between primary and secondary RS. After cooling, the palm temperatures were statistically lower than before the test in all children (primary RS -19.56 +/- 1.68; secondary RS -18.7 +/- 1.02; control group -- 18.98 +/- 0.39). The warming up speed of palm after 4 minutes from the cooling test was similar in investigated and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean concentration values of ET-1 in sera of children with RS and the control group (1.62 +/- 0.86 pg/ml vs 1.27 +/- 0.4 pg/ml). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Thermographic estimation of palm temperatures in children with RS is a good diagnostic method of vasomotor disturbances. 2. Assay of ET-1 serum levels seem not to have significant diagnostic value.