INTRODUCTION: Raynaud’s disease (RD) is characterised by numb, white and often painful distal extremities1. Severity varies and it affects 10-20% of the UK population2. Infrared (IR) thermography has previously been used to measure the distal-dorsal difference (DDD) of RD sufferers3. The DDD is a parameter for quantifying temperature change between the nail bed and dorsal metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the same digit; a difference of -1oC or greater in a negative direction is considered clinically relevant3. Assessment has typically followed evoking of symptoms by cold water provocation at 0-10oC from an ambient temperature of 20-24oC4,5. We report here preliminary findings from a less noxious provocation challenge. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the DDD of hands following a period of warmth provocation using IR thermography in order to determine sensitivity and clinical benefit. METHOD: 6 subjects (4 males, 2 females; age=24±3.6yrs) were recruited for the study. Of the 6 subjects, 2 had a history of primary RD. Following a 15 minute acclimatisation period in a room whose temperature was relatively constant (22oC ± 1oC), subjects placed their hands and proximal wrists under a temperature controlled incubator, with an air temperature of 30oC for 2 minutes. IR images of the dorsal hands were taken at the following intervals: 5, 3 and 1 minute prior to a 2 minute provocation, then immediately following (0), 1, 3 and 5 minutes following the cessation of the provocation. For RD subjects only, additional images were taken at 7 and 9 minutes to allow consideration for any delays in recovery of the circulation which is usual in other forms of testing of RD sufferers5. IR images were assessed by measuring the DDD of the 2nd and 4th digits. Images were taken using a LAND FTIM vIR IR camera and analysis software LIPS mini V1.10.02. The DDD and means were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics V19, figures produced by Microsoft Excel for Windows 2007. Ethical approval was granted by The Faculty of Health Science and Sport’s Ethics Committee, University of Glamorgan, written informed consent was obtained.RESULTS Figure 1& 2 show comparisons between recovery profiles. Figure 1 – Recovery profiles for the R 2nd digit normal hands. Both the 2nd and 4th digits of both hands appeared similar in profile. Figure 2 – R 2nd digit recovery profiles for the 2 subjects with RD. CONCLUSIONS Although only a pilot study, results were encouraging as the recovery profiles of the RD sufferers was visibly different to the normals. The large difference in reaction between the 2 RD sufferers suggests that this test might be sensitive to cause of the disease, consistent with DDD assessment following cold provocation3. Subjects elicited clinically relevant changes consistent with those elicited following cold provocation.