Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gabriella Nagy, Laszlo Czirjak, Gabor Kumanovics
Summary: Nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) is a useful tool for measuring capillary density (CD) and capillary morphology, mainly in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The presence of another CTD in SSc did not influence CD or morphology. An SSc pattern may also be present in CTDs other than SSc.
Article
Rheumatology
Rossella De Angelis, Valeria Riccieri, Edoardo Cipolletta, Nicoletta Del Papa, Francesca Ingegnoli, Silvia Bosello, Amelia Spinella, Greta Pellegrino, Marco de Pinto, Silvia Papa, Giuseppe Armentaro, Dilia Giuggioli
Summary: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy findings were compared in SSc patients with and without a diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The results showed that patients with SSc-PAH had more severe abnormalities in nailfold videocapillaroscopy. These findings may be helpful in predicting the diagnosis of PAH.
Article
Rheumatology
Valdirene S. Siqueira, Mariely F. S. Helbingen, Ana Cristina Medeiros-Ribeiro, Henrique Carrico da Silva, Renata Miossi, Ana Paula Luppino-Assad, Percival D. Sampaio-Barros
Summary: This study analyzed the early characteristics of SSc in RP patients and identified predictors for the progression to SSc. Combinations of RP + PF + positive ANA + SD-NFC and/or SSc-specific antibody (VEDOSS level 2), as well as RP + PF + positive ANA (VEDOSS level 1; "red flags") were most associated with progression to SSc. Combinations without non-RP clinical symptoms, such as RP + SD-NFC and RP + anticentromere + SD-NFC, were associated with non-progression to SSc.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ioanna Minopoulou, Marieta Theodorakopoulou, Afroditi Boutou, Alexandra Arvanitaki, Georgia Pitsiou, Michael Doumas, Pantelis Sarafidis, Theodoros Dimitroulas
Summary: In patients with systemic sclerosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension is a leading cause of mortality. Analysis of nailfold capillaroscopy revealed reduced capillary density and increased capillary loop width in SSc-PAH patients compared to those without PAH. Additionally, SSc-PAH patients were more likely to exhibit an active or late scleroderma pattern.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Rheumatology
Francesca Ingegnoli, Ariane L. Herrick, Tommaso Schioppo, Francesca Bartoli, Nicola Ughi, John D. Pauling, Alberto Sulli, Maurizio Cutolo, Vanessa Smith
Summary: This study aimed to seek consensus on reporting standards in nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) methodology and propose a pragmatic checklist. Through a Delphi exercise, 80 participants from 31 countries reached agreement on minimum reporting standards for NVC, covering patient preparation, device description, and examination details.
Review
Biology
Angelica Mandujano, Melissa Golubov
Summary: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation, vasculopathy, and fibrosis. Despite the development of various animal models, none fully replicate all aspects of the disease. Nailfold capillaroscopy, widely used in humans, has potential applications in animal models for studying vasculopathy and developing novel treatment options.
Article
Rheumatology
Eleni Pagkopoulou, Stergios Soulaidopoulos, Eva Triantafyllidou, Alexandra Arvanitaki, Niki Katsiki, Chalarampos Loutradis, Asterios Karagiannis, Michael Doumas, Alexandros Garyfallos, George D. Kitas, Theodoros Dimitroulas
Summary: The study found that reduced capillary density was inversely correlated with arterial stiffness and augmentation pressure, with significant differences in arterial augmentation index across different NVC patterns. Framingham risk score and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease score were positively correlated with the severity of microvasculopathy. Additionally, QRISK3 and ASCVD scores were inversely correlated with the number of capillaries.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Rheumatology
Ariane L. Herrick, Michael Berks, Chris J. Taylor
Summary: This review examines the potential and challenges of quantitative nailfold capillaroscopy, particularly in the context of systemic sclerosis. It highlights the importance of quantitative analysis for precise discrimination between normal and abnormal capillaries and reliable measurement of disease progression and treatment response. Suggestions for future steps include increased utilization of this technique in clinical practice and its potential as a biomarker in large-scale prospective research studies.
Article
Rheumatology
Marie Wildt, Kristofer Andreasson, Viggo Hamberg, Roger Hesselstrand, Dirk M. Wuttge
Summary: This study investigated the evolution of nailfold capillary density in SSc patients in relation to immunosuppressive treatment and autoantibodies. The results showed that a substantial proportion of newly diagnosed SSc patients had an improved capillary density over time. Immunosuppressive treatment, such as MMF, had a positive impact on the development of capillary density. The phenotype of SSc autoantibodies may also affect the capillary density.
Review
Rheumatology
Yasser El Miedany, Sherif Ismail, Mary Wadie, Mohammed Hassan
Summary: The lack of familiarity with nailfold capillaroscopy technique and interpretation of its outcomes has hindered its utilization in standard clinical practice. However, as a non-invasive technique, nailfold capillaroscopy holds great potential as an outcome measure in research and for identifying underlying connective tissue diseases.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Barbara Ruaro, Marco Confalonieri, Francesco Salton, Barbara Wade, Elisa Baratella, Pietro Geri, Paola Confalonieri, Metka Kodric, Marco Biolo, Cosimo Bruni
Summary: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by generalized vasculopathy and tissue fibrosis. Early evaluation and follow-up of patients for organ involvement is crucial to prevent poor prognosis and multi-organ damage. Pulmonary disease in SSc mainly involves interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension, with nailfold videocapillaroscopy being a useful tool for evaluating microvascular damage and predicting internal organ involvement.
Article
Biology
Sevdalina Nikolova Lambova, Ekaterina Krasimirova Kurteva, Sanie Syuleymanova Dzhambazova, Georgi Hristov Vasilev, Dobroslav Stanimirov Kyurkchiev, Mariela Gencheva Geneva-Popova
Summary: In this pilot study involving 19 patients with SSc, a correlation between more advanced capillaroscopic changes and the presence of anti-Scl-70 autoantibodies was confirmed. Additionally, positive anti-RNAP III-155 antibodies were found in SSc patients with or without early microangiopathy.
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Shiri Keret, Jan Mazzawi, Gleb Slobodin, Ori Rimar, Itzhak Rosner, Michael Rozenbaum, Lisa Kaly, Nina Boulman, Abid Awisat, Aniela Shouval, Francesca Ingegnoli, Doron Rimar
Summary: This study characterized the changes in nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) in vasculitis patients. Active vasculitis patients demonstrated higher rates of neoangiogenesis and capillary loss. Two novel NVC abnormalities were observed: rolling and peri-capillary stippling.
MICROVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Peter J. Roberts-Thomson, Karen A. Patterson, Jennifer G. Walker
Summary: Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a simple noninvasive microscopic technique used to identify abnormal morphological changes in the nailfold capillaries. It plays a fundamental role in understanding the pathological processes of scleroderma spectrum disorders, and can be performed using ophthalmoscope, dermatoscope, or smart phone for diagnosis. NFC has the potential to be a biomarker in the management of scleroderma spectrum disorders.
INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Alice Cole, Rhys Thomas, Nina Goldman, Kevin Howell, Kuntal Chakravarty, Christopher P. Denton, Voon H. Ong
Summary: This article reports a case of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis in a 70-year-old male following COVID-19 vaccination. The authors suspect a possible adverse reaction to the vaccine resulting in an atypical presentation of systemic sclerosis. The article discusses the potential mechanisms of autoimmune reactions triggered by vaccination in rheumatology.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2022)
