Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Pages: 318-322

Journal: Microvascular Research

Volume number: 83

Issue number: 3

ISSN: 0026-2862

eISSN: 1095-9319

Open access status: Green

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2012.03.002

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Background: There are limited data about the role of nailfold capillaroscopy in inflammatory arthritis.

Objectives: To study the role of capillaroscopy in inflammatory arthritis rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and early arthritis.

Methods: Patients from the following groups were included in the study: 62 patients with RA; 34 patients with PsA with involvement of the joints of the hands; 9 women with early arthritis. Nailfold capillaroscopy was performed with videocapillaroscope.

Results: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) was found in 30.6% (19/62) of RA patients, in 32.4% (11/34) of PsA patients and 44.4%, (4/9) of cases with early arthritis. The most frequent found capillaroscopic changes in RA patients were presence of elongated capillaries in 58% of cases (36/62) and prominent subpapillary plexus in 69% (43/62). Dilated capillaries were found in 78.9% (15/19) of patients with secondary RP and in 62.8% (27/43) of those without RP. "Scleroderma-like" capillaroscopic pattern was observed with low frequency in RA patients (14.5%/9/62). "Scleroderma-like" capillaroscopic pattern was also found in 11.1% (1/9) in the group of patients with early arthritis. The low frequency of the last type of capillaroscopic pattern in RA requires patients with such changes to be observed during regular follow-up for the development of systemic rheumatic disease different from inflammatory arthritis. In patients with PsA capillaries with specific morphology (tight terminal convolutions) were found in 58.8% (20/34) of cases.

Conclusions: Results from the present study confirm the necessity for inclusion of the nailfold capillaroscopy in the diagnostic algorithm in patients with inflammatory arthritis. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Lambova, S. and Mueller-Ladner, U. (2012) Capillaroscopic pattern in inflammatory arthritis, Microvascular Research, 83(3), pp. 318-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2012.03.002

APA Citation style: Lambova, S., & Mueller-Ladner, U. (2012). Capillaroscopic pattern in inflammatory arthritis. Microvascular Research. 83(3), 318-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2012.03.002