Arsenic and Raynaud's phenomenon

Summary

Occupational and environmental exposure to inorganic arsenic is associated with the occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon and objectively registered abnormal finger systolic blood pressure at local cooling (FSP). A subnormal FSP during cooling indicates a vasospastic tendency. It is not known whether these phenomena are related to recent or historical long-term exposure to arsenic. Twenty-one workers from a Swedish smelter were selected on the basis of exposure to arsenic dust for more than 14 years and a previously (three years earlier) recorded subnormal FSP during local cooling. The workers were examined before and after a 4 to 8 week summer vacation. After this intermission in arsenic exposure the urinary excretion of arsenic decreased to normal values, whereas the vasospastic reaction in the fingers remained. Thus the vasospastic tendency seems to be unrelated to the most recent urinary arsenic levels. FSP levels on cooling were significantly increased as compared with the measurements made three years earlier. This suggests a gradual improvement in finger blood circulation caused by decreased exposure to arsenic as evaluated over a time period of several years. The data thus indicate that peripheral vascular disturbances caused by arsenic are dependent on long-term arsenic exposures and are independent of short-term fluctuations in arsenic exposure.