Cerebral Vasospasm in Raynaud’s Syndrome Manifesting as Pulsatile Tinnitus

Background: Pulsatile tinnitus is a pulse synchronous audible whooshing sensation that arises from turbulent flow in stenotic intracranial or upper cervical arteries, amidst other pathologies, yet is often idiopathic in origin. Raynaud’s syndrome involves peripheral vasoconstriction, but possibly also cerebral vasoconstriction. The presence of cerebral vasoconstriction in Raynaud’s was evaluated by ascertaining the prevalence of pulsatile tinnitus compared to a control population.