OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and nature of clinical manifestations in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and Raynaud's phenomenon. METHODS One hundred twenty-three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (1982 American Rheumatism Association criteria) and Raynaud's phenomenon (at least two-phase, bilateral color reaction reported by the patient or observed by a physician) referred to the Rheumatology Unit of the Campinas University Hospital were retrospectively compared with 149 systemic lupus erythematosus patients without Raynaud's phenomenon. For each patient, gender, race, age at disease onset, disease duration, follow-up duration, clinical manifestations, and laboratory test findings were recorded. RESULTS Patients with Raynaud's phenomenon were more likely to have skin lesions and/or myalgia/myopathy and less likely to have nephritis and nephrotic syndrome. All five patients with pulmonary hypertension also had Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynaud's phenomenon was less common in younger patients and more common in patients with alopecia. CONCLUSIONS Raynaud's phenomenon was common in systemic lupus erythematosus patients from a tropical country. A better prognosis can be expected in lupus patients with Raynaud's phenomenon except when pulmonary hypertension occurs.