Blood biomarkers for vibration-induced white fingers. A case-comparison study.

BACKGROUND: Vibration induced white fingers (VWF) is one form of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). METHODS: Vibration exposed workers with RP and vibration exposed controls without RP participated. Blood samples were collected before and after cold challenge exposure (COP). The concentration of von Willebrand factor (vonWf), thrombomodulin (TM), serotonin (SER), endothelin-1 (ET1 ), calcitonin gene-related peptide, or thromboxane A2 was calculated. The diagnostic usefulness of the substances for ruling in the diagnosis of Raynaud's was evaluated. RESULTS: The cases showed a significant lower concentration of vonWf before and after COP, a significant increase of ET1  and a decrease of TM after COP. The diagnostic usefulness of vonWf showed a likelihood of defining a true case by 35%. CONCLUSIONS: vonWf, TM, SER, or ET1 are suggested biomarkers for VWF. Diagnostic evaluation of vonWf showed a likelihood of defining a true case by 35% in the diagnosis of RP related to vibration.