[Nailfold videocapillaroscopy - a useful tool for screening patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the risk of development of premature atherosclerosis].

Inflammation of the vascular wall with endothelial dysfunction and subsequent activation of inflammatory immune response play pivotal roles in the early development of the atherosclerotic process not only in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but also in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This hypothesis was supported by our findings from autopsy examination, revealing atherosclerosis lesions in about 30% children with JIA. The established methods of assessing pre-clinical atherosclerosis include measurement of biochemical markers of endothelium impairment and ultrasonographic examination of vessels (FMD, IMT). The authors suggest that revealing structural and functional impairment of peripheral microvessels by means of static and dynamic videocapillaroscopy can give clinicians a chance to identify even younger patients with JIA/RA at high risk of atherosclerosis.