Open AccessManagement of severe Raynaud’s Phenomenon secondary to autoimmune vasculopathy in a young woman
Author(s) -
Maame-Boatemaa Amissah-Arthur,
Lily Wu
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ghana medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.294
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2616-163X
pISSN - 0016-9560
DOI - 10.4314/gmj.v55i1.16
Subject(s) - medicine , gangrene , dermatomyositis , connective tissue disease , ischemia , disease , raynaud disease , connective tissue , scleroderma (fungus) , dermatology , pathology , autoimmune disease , inoculation
Raynaud’s phenomenon as a cause of acute limb ischaemia in the warmer climates of Sub-Saharan Africa region is uncommon because it is usually thought of as a disease common in cold weather. The prevalence of connective tissue diseases among Black Africans is increasing, and these conditions are associated with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon and ischaemic digital lesions. We present the case of a 36-year old female with dermatomyositis/systemic sclerosis overlap and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon who presented with acute limb ischemia (wet gangrene of all digits) in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana. Young patients presenting with acute limb ischaemia should also be screened for an underlying connective tissue disease. In patients with connective tissue disease, the onset of digital vasculopathy can be rapid and progressive, hence treatment must be prompt and comprehensive to enable better clinical outcomes.