Nailfold capillary abnormalities in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and the degree of the nailfold capillary abnormalities in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).


METHODS
We studied 67 (M/F: 28/39) patients with FMF. Thirty-seven healthy subjects (16/21), 19 patients (0/19) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 8 patients (0/8) with scleroderma (PSS) were also studied. All participants were questioned for the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Capillary loops of eight fingers were evaluated and scored with respect to avascular areas, tortuosity, enlargement and extravasations by the conventional capillary microscopy. Both FMF patients and healthy controls were examined in a blind manner.


RESULTS
FMF patients differed from healthy controls by the presence of increased tortuosity and enlargement of capillary loops, but not by microhemorrhages. Being female and the presence of RP were the factors that correlated with the capillaroscopic findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Capillary abnormalities are seen in patients with FMF.
Dinç
A
A
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey.
Melikoğlu
M
M
Korkmaz
C
C
Fresko
I
I
Ozdoğan
H
H
Yazici
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000002:abnormalities; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000150:complications; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications