title: Correlations between nailfold microangiopathy severity, finger dermal thickness and fingertip blood perfusion in systemic sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify possible correlations between nailfold microangiopathy severity, finger dermal thickness (DT) and fingertip blood perfusion (FBP) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven SSc patients and 37 healthy subjects were enrolled. All patients were evaluated by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) to classify and score the severity of microangiopathy. Both modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) and skin high-frequency ultrasound were used to detect finger DT. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was employed to detect FBP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A positive correlation was found between nailfold microvascular damage severity and both ultrasound-DT (p=0.028) and mRss values (p<0.0001). In particular, both ultrasound-DT and mRss were found progressively higher in patients with 'Early', 'Active' or 'Late' NVC pattern of microangiopathy. A negative correlation was observed between nailfold microvascular damage severity and FBP (p<0.0001), showing the lowest FBP of the patients with more advanced NVC patterns. A negative correlation was observed between FBP, and both ultrasound-DT (p=0.007) and mRss values (p=0.0002). SSc patients showed a higher ultrasound-DT at the level of the fingers, as well as a lower FBP than healthy subjects (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a relationship between nailfold microangiopathy severity, DT and FBP in SSc patients.
authors: Research Laboratory and Academic Unit of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, , Genova, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sulli
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Ruaro
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Alessandri
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Pizzorni
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Cimmino
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Zampogna
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gallo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cutolo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020405:Dermis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Disease Activity; Systemic Sclerosis; Ultrasonography