[Nailfold capillaroscopic report: qualitative and quantitative methods].
Nailfold capillaroscopy (NVC) is a simple and non-invasive method used for the assessment of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and in the differential diagnosis of various connective tissue diseases. The scleroderma pattern abnormalities (giant capillaries, haemorrages and/or avascular areas) have a positive predictive value for the development of scleroderma spectrum disorders. Thus, an analytical approach to nailfold capillaroscopy can be useful in quantitatively and reproducibly recording various parameters. We developed a new method to assess patients with RP that is capable of predicting the 5-year transition from isolated RP to RP secondary to scleroderma spectrum disorders. This model is a weighted combination of different capillaroscopic parameters (giant capillaries, microhaemorrages, number of capillaries) that allows physicians to stratify RP patients easily using a relatively simple diagram to deduce prognosis.
Lubatti
C
C
Dipartimento e Cattedra di Reumatologia, Istituto Gaetano Pini, 20122 Milano, Italia. chiara.lubatti@virgilio.it
Ingegnoli
F
F
Gualtierotti
R
R
Boracchi
P
P
Zahalkova
L
L
Zeni
S
S
Soldi
A
A
Fantini
F
F
D006801:Humans; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000473:pathology*