title: [The diagnostic significance of nailfold video-capillaroscopy in systemic sclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe nailfold capillary changes in a cohort of connective tissue disease (CTD) with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and to explore the diagnostic value of nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty CTD patients with RP divided into SSc group (n = 36) and non-SSc group (n = 24) were referred to an experienced operator for NVC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients had decreased capillary loops in SSc group with the capillary diameter more enlarged in SSc group than non-SSc group. The number of patients in SSc group with giant capillaries was 14, while 3 in non-SSc group. There were 23 patients with haemorrhages in SSc group and 9 in non-SSc group. The number of patients with severe effusion was 15 in SSc group, while 2 in non-SSc group. By using the ROC curves, indexes with AUC at least 0.7 of the input capillary diameter, the output capillary diameter, the middle capillary diameter, blood color and effusion for the diagnostic cutoff points were 18.5 µm, 24.5 µm, 19.5µm, deep red and severe effusion. With at least 2 out of the top 3 indexes, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of SSc were higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTD Patients with RP of SSc have less capillary loops, more enlarged capillaries, more giant capillaries, more severe effusion and more haemorrhages than non-SSc patients. The characteristics of nailfold capillary changes in SSc patients with RP can be helpful for the diagnosis and the differential diagnosis of SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Guang
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiang-Lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiu-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult