Cold related disorders

Last updated: Wednesday, 24, November, 2010
Including Raynaud,s phenomenon, acrocyanosis, cold urticaria, livedo reticularis, vasculitis, haemolysis
Key InformationAppropriate Tests
Raynaud’s phenomenonClinical assessment in conjunction with FBC, antinuclear antibodies; rheumatoid factor; cryoglobulin; complement components C3 and C4.
Primary (idiopathic)

Connective tissue diseases, especially

  • Mixed connective tissue disease
See under Connective tissue diseases.

Cryoglobulinaemia

Drugs, including

  • Beta blockers
  • Ergot derivatives

Chronic arterial insufficiency

Occupational - vibrating tools

Occult carcinoma

Cold antibody haemolysis

See under Autoimmune haemolysis.
AcrocyanosisClinical assessment; cryoglobulin; FBC; protein (total) and protein electrophoresis.

Cryoglobulinaemia

Connective tissue diseases

Cold antibody haemolysis

See under Autoimmune haemolysis.
Cold urticariaClinical assessment; FBC, antinuclear antibodies; Epstein–Barr virus antibodies; complement components C3 and C4; cold agglutinins; cryoglobulin.

Urticaria

Cryoglobulinaemia

Livedo reticularisClinical assessment; FBC, antinuclear antibodies; cardiolipin antibodies; cryoglobulin; protein (total), protein electrophoresis; Beta 2 glycoprotein-1 antibodies.

Idiopathic

Connective tissue diseases

Phospholipid antibody syndrome

Cryoglobulinaemia

Vasculitis
HaemolysisSee 'Cold' antibody haemolysis under Autoimmune haemolysis.