A 21-year-old woman presents with digital color changes in response to cold stimulation. Physical examination and laboratory data, including an autoimmune disease screen, are normal. She should be advised that:

A. Her condition is characteristic of vasospastic Raynaud's syndrome and, while she may be at a slightly higher risk for developing a connective tissue disease in the future, there is no evidence of one currently.

DISCUSSION: This presentation is classic for vasospastic Raynaud's syndrome. While these patients are probably at a slightly higher risk for developing a connective tissue disorder in the future, this risk is low. These patients do not invariably progress to tissue loss. This patient has no evidence of scleroderma at the present, and there is no reason to predict that she will develop it. Even though her physical and laboratory examinations are negative, her history is positive for Raynaud's syndrome.