[Nailfold capillaroscopy in normal children between 0 and 16 years of age].
BACKGROUND
Nailfold capillaroscopy is a technique used in childhood and adults for morpho-functional study of peripheral microcirculation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the evolution of the microcirculation.


METHODS
Nailfold capillaroscopy was performed in eighty-six healthy children (48 boys and 38 girls) aged 5 months to 16 years. All the subjects were divided into 5 groups for age.


RESULTS
A progressive morphological and dynamic development of peripheral microcirculation in the early years of life was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, nailfold capillaroscopy is a simple, noninvasive, easily repetitive method which allows to observe the physiological development and a possible pathology of naifold capillaries.
Martino
F
F
Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma.
Agolini
D
D
Aprigliano
D
D
Guido
F
F
Placanica
G
G
Giardini
O
O
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*