Evaluation of nailfold capillaries in familial Mediterranean fever patients.
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent inflammatory febrile attacks, abdominal, chest or joint pain, myalgia, and erysipelas-like skin lesions. Several types of vasculitis are associated with FMF such as polyarteritis nodosa and Henoch-Schönlein purpura. We aimed to determine microvascular abnormalities in FMF patients via nailfold capillaroscopy using a dermoscope. Thirty-one FMF patients were assessed; capillary enlargement, tortuosity, avascular areas and microhemmoraghes were investigated. Capillary enlargement was found in five patients and microhemorrhages in one patient. Our study supports that nailfold capillary abnormalities, which are nonspecific, can be seen in FMF patients, but more studies are needed to clarify the importance of these findings.
Department of Dermatology, Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, 55139 Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey.
Sevil
S
Aytekin
Fatma
F
Aydin
Tekin
T
Akpolat
Nilgun
N
Senturk
Ahmet Yasar
AY
Turanli
D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology*; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*