title: Vascular Features of Nail Psoriasis Using Dynamic Optical Coherence Tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nail psoriasis is a painful and disfiguring nail disease that often leads to invasive biopsies. Dermoscopy of the hyponychium can be useful in the diagnosis showing twisted coiled vessels. Structural features of nail psoriasis have been described with optical coherence tomography (OCT).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate vascular features of nail psoriasis using dynamic OCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, prospective, controlled study in which psoriasis patients with psoriatic nail changes and healthy control patients underwent OCT imaging of the distal nail plate and proximal nail fold. Vertical and horizontal OCT images were analyzed to describe structural and vascular features and to quantify blood flow at depth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen psoriatic nails and 16 control nails were included. Psoriatic nails had significantly increased blood flow in the proximal nail fold at depths of 0.72 mm (p = 0.035) and 0.76 mm (p = 0.027). Nail thickness was significantly greater in psoriatic nails compared to control nails (p = 0.0016). Compared to control nails, psoriatic nails had dilated, disorganized blood vessels superficially in the proximal nail fold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main limitation of our study is the relatively small sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT can identify structural and vascular features specific to nail psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Aldahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Lucy L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Raymond M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fertig
authors.affiliation: Michelson Diagnostics Ltd, Maidstone, UK.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Vidhi V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mlacker
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nouri
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
keywords: Nail psoriasis; Nails; Optical coherence tomography; Optical imaging; Psoriasis; Vascular pattern