Pediatr Rheumatol
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Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a functional vascular disease, presenting with recurrent episodes of ischemia of extremities in response to cold and emotional stress. Investigating cutaneous microcirculation is an important tool in understanding the complex neuro-immuno-vascular interactions in its pathophysiological mechanisms. Since there is no available data on vascular responsiveness in RP in the paediatric population, we investigated skin perfusion and heat-induced hyperaemia in comparison with clinical severity and laboratory parameters of the disease. ⋯ To our knowledge this is the first study in paediatric population to show altered heat-induced cutaneous hyperaemia responses in relation with the clinical severity and symptomatology.