Review article

CAPILLAROSCOPY IN RHEUMATOLOGICAL PRACTICE – ONE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Marko Barešić
Branimir Anić

Abstract

Capillaroscopy is a method for evaluating morphological characteristics of nailfold capillaries. The simplicity, noninvasiveness and easiness-to-perform make the method accessible in everyday rheumatological practice. Raynaud’s phenomenon is the main indication for performing capillaroscopy (differentiating between primary and secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon) and diagnosing early stages of systemic sclerosis. According to some authors capillaroscopy should be included in the work-up algorithm for patients with puffy fingers and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Other autoimmune conditions (systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, antiphospholipid syndrome and other diseases which affect microvasculature – diabetes mellitus, thromboangiitis obliterans) can have some abnormalities of the capillaroscopic pattern. We present the results of the capillaroscopies performed in our center during the period of one year.

Keywords

Rheumatic diseases – diagnosis; Raynaud disease – diagnosis; Scleroderma, systemic – diagnosis; Microscopic angioscopy – instrumentation; Nails – blood supply

Hrčak ID:

172584

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/172584

Publication date:

27.2.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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