title: Nailfold capillaroscopy in primary biliary cirrhosis: a useful tool for the early diagnosis of scleroderma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is frequently associated with other autoimmune diseases, including systemic sclerosis (SSc). In the last years many efforts have been dedicated to the research of widely accepted criteria for the early diagnosis of SSc. Since studies on the prevalence of early SSc in PBC patients are lacking, our aim was to investigate its hitherto unknown prevalence in a large cohort of PBC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 80 PBC patients and 72 patients with other chronic liver diseases. Diagnostic workup included research into signs of connective tissue disease, determination of autoantibody profile, and examination of capillary abnormalities through nailfold videocapillaroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten PBC patients (12.5%) satisfied diagnostic criteria for early SSc and 5 (6.3%) had definite SSc. None of the patients in the control group were diagnosed either with early or definite SSc. No differences were observed in terms of aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, and liver function tests between PBC patients with and without associated SSc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early SSc is significantly frequent in PBC patients. The detection of early SSc in PBC patients may lead to a prompt treatment of its complications, preventing inabilities and preserving the chance of liver transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy. francesco.tovoli@studio.unibo.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tovoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granito
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giampaolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Digestive Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frisoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Volta
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Digestive Diseases, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies