Whiteblood cell activation inRaynaud's phenomenon ofsystemic sclerosis induced white fingersyndrome

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) andvibration induced whitefinger syndrome (VWF)arecommon causes ofsecondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Previous studies havesuggested anincrease ininflammation inpatients with SSc.Vibration induced whitefinger syndrome occursin workers exposed tovibration andisnowa prescribed disease. InVWF,although itis recognised thatvibration cancausedirect damage toblood vessels, itdoesnotexplain whyonlysomeworkers areaffected. Itis possible thatan inflammatory process develops inthese patients inthesamewayas isseeninSSc.Leukotriene B4,produced mainlybypolymorphonuclear