Medic leads international research project
A consultant from Bath is leading international research into Raynaud’s disease A consultant rheumatologist in Bath is among an international team that’s been awarded a $1.2 million grant to research Raynaud’s phenomenon. Dr John Pauling leads the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Vascular Working Group from the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD). He is collaborating with US researchers from Baltimore and Pittsburgh Universities to investigate ways of improving the assessment of Raynaud’s, using funding obtained from the US Department of Defence. He said: “I’m very excited to be part of this important project. The grant will allow us to better understand Raynaud’s and develop new tools for assessing and diagnosing the disease.” Raynaud’s phenomenon is common but many go undiagnosed or do not feel it requires medical attention. For many people, it is intrusive but doesn’t cause any severe problems. However, for a minority of people affected by Raynaud’s, it can be a sign of a more serious condition such as systemic sclerosis (also known as scleroderma), a rare autoimmune disease that results in damage to the blood vessels and excessive scar tissue formation in the skin and internal organs. February is Raynaud’s Awareness Month and Scleroderma & Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) are asking people to take a quick and simple online test if they suffer from cold fingers and toes, colour changes in your skin, numbness, tingling or pain in the affected area, or stinging or throbbing pain upon warming or stress relief. To take the test or to find out more about symptoms and ways of managing Raynaud’s, visit www.sruk.co.uk