PATTERNS OF MICROVASCULAR RESPONSE ASSOCIATED WITH REFLEX SYMPATHETICDYSTROPHY OF THE HAND AND WRIST

The diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy is based on clinical pre sentation and often the presence of a positive three-phase technetium bone scan result. This study compared vasomotor control patterns betwe en reflex sympathetic dystrophy patients with positive bone scan resul ts and those with negative results. Both groups showed similar vasomot or responses to isolated cold stress testing-warm, cold, and transitio nal patterns of response were identified in both groups. Thus, this st udy demonstrates that a positive technetium bone scan result does not correlate with vasomotor disturbances in patients with reflex sympathe tic dystrophy of the hand.