title: Is the capillary microscopic determination of the visible capillary length a diagnostic criterion in thromboangiitis obliterans?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis of thromboangiitis obliterans may be difficult to establish in the everyday clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 16 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans vital capillary microscopy was carried out on the nailfold on all ten digits. The longest visible capillary length was noted. As controls we employed 86 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measurement of the respective longest visible capillary on the nailfold revealed a visible capillary length of more than 0.6 mm in 38% of all patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (n = 16), such capillary lengths were not to be found among healthy subjects (n = 86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vital capillary microscopic determination of the visible capillary length is a simple-to-perform, non-invasive examination, which can help to establish the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Franziskus Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fahrig
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heidrich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D012016:Reference Values; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000175:diagnosis*