title: [Cutaneous microcirculation in infectious endocarditis].
abstract: Nailfold capillary microscopy was used to study the microcirculation patterns in 26 adult patients with infective endocarditis. Abnormal patterns were found in 13 patients (50%). Enlargement of capillary loops was never observed. Significant correlations were found between the number of capillary abnormalities and both systemic involvement (cutaneous vasculitis, arthritis, splenomegaly and/or glomerulonephritis) and immunological disturbances (circulating immune complexes, rheumatoid factor and/or hypocomplementemia) (p = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). Capillary abnormalities were significantly reduced in 14 patients studied 4 to 48 months after endocarditis was cured. However, due to the lack of specificity, nailfold capillary microscopy cannot be regarded as a useful tool for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Connective tissue disorders are not the sole diagnosis to be considered in patients with abnormal nailfold capillary microcirculation patterns.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mouthon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Delon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapelon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ziza
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godeau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology
vernacular_title: La microcirculation cutanée dans les endocardites infectieuses.