Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical examination. Your doctor might also order tests to rule out other medical problems that can cause similar signs and symptoms.

Sorting out primary vs. secondary Raynaud's

To tell the difference between primary and secondary Raynaud's, your doctor might do a test called nailfold capillaroscopy. During the test, the doctor looks at the skin at the base of your fingernail under a microscope or magnifier to look for deformities or swelling of the tiny blood vessels.

If your doctor thinks that another condition, such as an autoimmune disorder or a connective tissue disease, may be causing Raynaud's, he or she will likely order blood tests, such as:

• Antinuclear antibodies test. Testing positive for these antibodies might be a sign of a stimulated immune system, common in people who have connective tissue diseases or other autoimmune disorders.
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This test determines the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube. A faster than normal rate might signal an underlying inflammatory or autoimmune disease.

No one blood test can diagnose Raynaud's. Your doctor might order other tests, such as those that rule out diseases of the arteries, to help pinpoint a condition that can be associated with Raynaud's.