title: Capillaroscopy in psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis: a useful tool for differential diagnosis.
abstract: Impairment of capillaries permeability and changes of microcirculation are associated with inflammatory arthritis. In order to demonstrate microvascular differences between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) we analyzed capillaroscopic abnormalities such as megacapillaries, haemorrhages, ramifications, and avascular areas in patients affected by these two rheumatic disorders. Moreover to identify specific capillaroscopy patterns we analyzed the following parameters: venous limb diameter, arterial limb diameter, capillary loop diameter, amplitude of the capillary loop, linear density of capillaries (on 2 mm), and number of twisted capillaries (on 4 mm). Through a comparative morphometric analysis of capillaroscopy, our study demonstrated the presence of specific microvascular differences between PsA and RA providing an additional diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis. We also suggest that capillaries structural abnormalities might reflect endothelial injury due to systemic inflammation during chronic arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graceffa
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amorosi
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maiani
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonifati
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Sole
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perricone
authors.affiliation: San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Carlo