title: Methods for the morphological and functional evaluation of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease characterized by alterations in microvascular structure and function. In these patients, numerous studies have demonstrated a relationship between capillary morphology and peripheral blood perfusion. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy reveals the peripheral microvascular morphology and thus allows classification and scoring of capillary abnormalities with respect to different microangiopathy patterns (early, active, and late). Laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle contrast analysis can be used to estimate cutaneous blood flow through microvessels and to assess and quantify blood perfusion at peripheral sites. These two methods are also used to identify changes in digital blood perfusion after the infusion of vasodilators.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulli
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Decuman
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizzorni
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutolo
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008833:Microcirculation; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009262:Nails; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents
keywords: Laser speckle contrast analysis; Microvascular damage; Nailfold videocapillaroscopy; Peripheral blood perfusion; Systemic sclerosis