OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate quantitative and semiquantitative nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) parameters with the extent of cutaneous and visceral involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. METHODS: The presence of clinical and serological alterations was evaluated retrospectively and correlated with NFC findings (number of capillary loops/mm, vascular deletion score and number of enlarged and giant capillary loops). For evaluation of disease extension five manifestations were analyzed: finger pad lesions, skin involvement, esophageal involvement, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS: There were 105 NFC examinations in 92 patients, 13 of whom were evaluated at two different time points. Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc had a higher vascular deletion score than patients with limited cutaneous SSc, sine scleroderma SSc, and overlap syndrome (1.67+/-0.91 vs 0.99+/-0.82; p=0.0005). Modified Rodnan's skin score correlated positively with capillary deletion, evaluated by the vascular deletion score and the number of capillary loops/mm (p<0.001 and p=0.012; respectively). Patients with three or more involved tracts presented lower number of capillary loops/mm (8.00+/-1.69 vs 9.23+/-1.31 capillary loops/mm; p=0.025) and a higher vascular deletion score (1.41+/-0.95 vs 0.73+/-0.76; p=0.027) when compared to patients with less than three affected tracts. Vascular deletion score was significantly higher in patients with anti-Scl-70 antibodies that in patients without anti-Scl-70 antibodies (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: NFC abnormalities correlated positively with the diffuse form of SSc, the degree of cutaneous involvement, the number of affected tracts, and the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate quantitative and semiquantitative nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) parameters with the extent of cutaneous and visceral involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. METHODS: The presence of clinical and serological alterations was evaluated retrospectively and correlated with NFC findings (number of capillary loops/mm, vascular deletion score and number of enlarged and giant capillary loops). For evaluation of disease extension five manifestations were analyzed: finger pad lesions, skin involvement, esophageal involvement, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS: There were 105 NFC examinations in 92 patients, 13 of whom were evaluated at two different time points. Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc had a higher vascular deletion score than patients with limited cutaneous SSc, sine scleroderma SSc, and overlap syndrome (1.67+/-0.91 vs 0.99+/-0.82; p=0.0005). Modified Rodnan's skin score correlated positively with capillary deletion, evaluated by the vascular deletion score and the number of capillary loops/mm (p<0.001 and p=0.012; respectively). Patients with three or more involved tracts presented lower number of capillary loops/mm (8.00+/-1.69 vs 9.23+/-1.31 capillary loops/mm; p=0.025) and a higher vascular deletion score (1.41+/-0.95 vs 0.73+/-0.76; p=0.027) when compared to patients with less than three affected tracts. Vascular deletion score was significantly higher in patients with anti-Scl-70 antibodies that in patients without anti-Scl-70 antibodies (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: NFC abnormalities correlated positively with the diffuse form of SSc, the degree of cutaneous involvement, the number of affected tracts, and the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibodies.
Authors: Lucila Marino Claverie; Elizabeth Knobel; Lorena Takashima; Lorena Techera; Marina Oliver; Paula Gonzalez; Félix E Romanini; María L Fonseca; Marta N Mamani Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2013-02-16 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Sandra A Mitchell; David Jacobsohn; Kimberly E Thormann Powers; Paul A Carpenter; Mary E D Flowers; Edward W Cowen; Mark Schubert; Maria L Turner; Stephanie J Lee; Paul Martin; Michael R Bishop; Kristin Baird; Javier Bolaños-Meade; Kevin Boyd; Jane M Fall-Dickson; Lynn H Gerber; Jean-Pierre Guadagnini; Matin Imanguli; Michael C Krumlauf; Leslie Lawley; Li Li; Bryce B Reeve; Janine Austin Clayton; Georgia B Vogelsang; Steven Z Pavletic Journal: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant Date: 2011-04-12 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Reem A Habeeb; Howaida E Mansour; Aya M Abdeldayem; Rania A Abo-Shady; Iman A Hassan; Nazek K Saafan; Dalia G Aly Journal: Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2010-04-28