Use of biofeedback training in treatment of Raynaud's disease and phenomenon

Abstract

To assess biofeedback training in Raynaud's, we retrospectively reviewed 23 patients' records. Eleven had Raynaud's disease and 12 had Raynaud's phenomenon; 9 had recurrent digital ulcers. Patients demonstrated lower baseline digital temperatures than controls (p less than or equal to 0.001), patients with Raynaud's and scleroderma manifesting the lowest. After biofeedback training all patients elevated baseline temperatures. Patients with scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus had the greatest elevations. Improvement, both subjective (57%) and ulcers (44%), persisted one year after treatment. Four of 7 patients were capable of elevating digital temperatures within 5 min, 18 months after their last training session. These findings support biofeedback training as beneficial therapy in Raynaud's.