Nailfold capillary abnormalities in Behçet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the degree and the frequency of the nailfold capillary abnormalities and to correlate these with clinicolaboratory variables of Behçets disease.


METHODS
A stereomicroscope was applied to study the nutritional skin capillaries of the nailfolds. Stages 0, A, B and C (Fagrell's classification) were distinguished.


RESULTS
In 40 healthy subjects capillary abnormalities (stage A) were detected in 7%. In 33 of our patients abnormal nailfold capillary findings (stages A, B, C) were noted in 75%. The stage of capillary abnormalities was significantly correlated with skin manifestations (p = 0.03), arthritis/arthralgia (p = 0.04), and pathergy test (p = 0.04). The correlation between stages 0 and A and eye involvement was not significant (p = 0.08). Disease duration was longer in patients of stage C than in stage 0 but this difference was also not significant (p < 0.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Using a noninvasive method we detected nailfold capillary abnormalities in the majority of our patients.
Vaiopoulos
G
G
First Department of Internal Medicine, Athens University Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Greece.
Pangratis
N
N
Samarkos
M
M
Hatzinicolaou
P
P
Mavropoulos
S
S
Tzonou
A
A
Kaklamanis
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors