@article {6003,
	title = {Investigation of laboratory parameters in primary raynaud{\textquoteright}s phenomenon: Their changes and clinical significance},
	journal = {Vascular Surgery},
	volume = {31},
	year = {1997},
	month = {1997///},
	pages = {623 - 629},
	abstract = {The authors investigated 125 patients suffering from primary Raynaud{\textquoteright}s phenomenon by the following laboratory hematologic parameters: (1) cryofibrinogen and cryoglobulins; (2) serum albumins and immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM, as well as complement factors C3 and C4; (3) clotting inhibitors, antithrombin III, protein C and protein S, as well as α1 antitrypsin. Results were as follows: 77 (62\%) patients had cryofibrinogen in their blood plasma, 50 (40\%) patients had precipitation of cryoglobulins, and 65 (52\%) patients had an increase of α2 globulin in the serum electrophoresis. Of the immunoglobulins, IgM was found increased in 42 patients (34\%). Of the clotting time inhibitors, antithrombin III (AT III) had a lower activity in 50 (40\%) patients as compared with that of normal subjects. Protein C, protein S, and α1 antitrypsin levels were lower in 21 (16.8\%), 13 (10.4\%), and 10 (8\%) of patients, respectively. Statistical analysis of the results showed that all the protein fractions except for γ- globulin presented a statistically significant difference as compared with those of the controls (P <0.0001). Immunoglobulins IgG and IgA of the patients were significantly lower than those of the normal controls (P <0.001). The C3 and C4 factors of the complement presented statistically significant lower values (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001 respectively). Finally, AT III appeared in lower values than those of the normal controls, being statistically significant (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that patients with primary Raynaud{\textquoteright}s phenomenon present changes in the levels of certain hematologic parameters, a fact that is probably connected with etiology. Thus further study and assessment might contribute to the diagnosis, discovery of the subjective systemic etiology, and better therapeutic management of Raynaud{\textquoteright}s phenomenon.},
	author = {Dalamanga, A. and Dimakakos, P. and Kostoglou-Papalambrou, M. and Papageorgiou, A. and Davea-Mela, F. and Rizos, D.}
}
