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Raynaud's phenomenon: primary care assessment and treatment

A Canadian clinical summary of raynaud's phenomenon: primary care assessment and treatment, with source-attributed priorities and explicit jurisdiction boundaries.

JurisdictionCanada
Source check2026-08-20
Clinical reviewiatroX editorial team 路 Clinical editorial review 路 reviewed 2026-08-20 路 due 2027-08-20
AudienceHealthcare professionals practising in Canada
This is an iatroX educational summary of named Canada sources, not an official guideline. It does not replace the complete source documents, local policy, specialist advice or clinical judgement. The evidence source is pan-Canadian, but formularies, funded access, referral routes, public-health directions and service availability remain provincial or territorial.

Source and scope

This summary is bounded to the recommendations, population and decisions covered by Position Statement on PDE5 inhibitors for the treatment of severe Raynaud鈥檚 Phenomenon. Apply it with the current provincial or territorial pathway where implementation differs.
sources for this section:CRA Raynaud 2024

Source-attributed clinical priorities

  • Distinguish likely primary Raynaud phenomenon from late-onset, asymmetric, painful or tissue-injuring secondary disease.
  • Assess medicines, occupational vibration and features of systemic sclerosis or other connective-tissue disease.
  • Use warmth and trigger management first and escalate digital ischemia, ulceration or gangrene urgently.
  • New, asymmetric or tissue-injuring Raynaud phenomenon is more likely secondary than lifelong symmetric attacks.
sources for this section:CRA Raynaud 2024

Practical assessment and management workflow

1
Describe color sequence, triggers, duration, pain, ulcers, onset age and occupational vibration.
2
Examine pulses, skin, nailfolds and connective-tissue features and review vasoconstricting medicines.
3
Use warmth, smoking cessation and trigger reduction and consider vasodilator treatment for troublesome disease.
4
Refer secondary features or abnormal tests to rheumatology or vascular care.
sources for this section:CRA Raynaud 2024

Safety, red flags and urgent escalation

  • Persistent pallor or cyanosis, severe pain, ulcer or gangrene requires urgent vascular assessment.
  • Check blood pressure and edema before and after vasodilator therapy.
  • Do not diagnose primary Raynaud phenomenon when pulses are absent or systemic-sclerosis features are present.
sources for this section:CRA Raynaud 2024

Confirm the local pathway before acting

The evidence source is pan-Canadian, but formularies, funded access, referral routes, public-health directions and service availability remain provincial or territorial.
sources for this section:CRA Raynaud 2024

Source and implementation boundary

Read this educational summary with the linked source, current Canadian product information where medicines are involved, and the applicable provincial or territorial pathway. Local formularies, reporting duties, referral routes and service availability can differ.
sources for this section:CRA Raynaud 2024

Source documents

Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.

  1. Canadian Rheumatology AssociationPosition Statement on PDE5 inhibitors for the treatment of severe Raynaud鈥檚 PhenomenonVersion 1; 2024-06-24 路 accessed 2026-08-20
    view source
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