Microvascular dynamics at the nailfold in rheumatoid arthritis.
Conventional and fluorescence videomicroscopy using Na-fluorescein as tracer was performed in 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Waaler Rose titers less than 1: 112, 10 patients with titers greater than or equal to 1: 112 and 11 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) (control group). At the nailfold different microvascular diameters, capillary flow pattern, red blood cell velocity and transcapillary diffusion of Na-fluorescein were determined. Mean red blood cell velocity was significantly (p less than 0.02) decreased in patients with RA and high titers (0.23 +/- 0.21 0.21 mm/s) when compared to OA patients (0.59 +/- 0.20 mm/s). Abnormal flow patterns, in 2 cases even a reversal of flow direction, were only observed in RA patients and not in controls. Mean transcapillary and interstitial diffusion of Na-fluorescein was not enhanced at the nailfold in RA-patients. These findings do not exclude increased microvascular permeability in synovial membranes or in RA patients with vasculitis.
Grassi
W
W
Department of Rheumatology, University of Ancona, Italy.
Felder
M
M
Thüring-Vollenweider
U
U
Bollinger
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014743:Videotape Recording / Q000379:methods