Coronary artery disease

In the six patients described here the shoulder-hand syndrome proved to be a painful, disabling condition leading in some instances to long standing, and in one case possibly permanent, trophic changes of the hand. Its appearance requires thorough study of the patient and evaluation of the cardiac status. For the present it must be regarded in cases like ours as a non-traumatic, non-cardiac, idiopathic disorder acting through a disturbed neurovascular mechanism. If the differentiation of this clinical picture serves only to avoid unsuitable therapy and to provide a better insight into the prognosis, its recognition as a special entity is justified.