title: Predictive value of nailfold capillaroscopy in the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases.
abstract: We revised the clinical files of 326 patients who underwent nailfold capillaroscopy. These patients could be subdivided into 4 groups: I: patients with clinical suspicion of connective tissue disease, II: patients with isolated Raynaud's phenomenon, III: patients with existing connective tissue disease, IV: patients with acrocyanosis, chronic pernio or related disorders. The presence of megacapillaries was noted. The sensitivity of their presence for the various categories of connective tissue disease was as follows: systemic sclerosis (n = 11): 100%, CREST (n = 15): 73%, MCTD (n = 9): 56%, dermatomyositis (n = 7): 86%. Nineteen patients with megacapillaries had no final diagnosis of connective tissue disease (specificity 93.3%). The positive predictive value of the presence of megacapillaries for a scleroderma spectrum disorder (SSD) was 63.5% and the negative predictive value of a normal capillaroscopy 96.7%. We conclude that nailfold capillaroscopy can be advised to rule out SSD's.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, UZ Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blockmans
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beyens
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
mesh_terms: D017546:Angioscopy; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity