Massimo De Martinis1,2, Maria Maddalena Sirufo1,2, Lia Ginaldi1,2. 1. a Department of Life, Health, & Environmental Sciences , University of L'Aquila , Italy. 2. b Allergology and Clinical Immunology Unit, AUSL 04, Teramo , Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Peripheral vascular abnormalities caused by a dysregulation between peripheral vasoconstriction and vasodilatation, clinically appearing with Raynaud's phenomenon, have been described in anorexia nervosa but specific characteristics of microcirculation in anorexic patients have not yet been studied. METHODS: We performed nailfold videocapillaroscopy to assess microcirculatory alteration in anorexic patients and found three different patterns: normal, aspecific and early scleroderma pattern. We also evaluated several laboratory and clinical parameters to better assess our capillaroscopic findings. RESULTS: None of the clinical parameters examined correlated with specific capillaroscopic findings. An increased risk of autoimmune diseases in eating disorder patients has been described. Our results evidenced an association between early scleroderma capillaroscopic pattern and Raynaud's phenomenon that occurs in anorexia nervosa patients, whereas no significant association was found between all three capillaroscopic patterns and the presence of autoantibodies, as well as ESR and CRP values. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that patients with AN suffering from RP exhibit NVC findings typical of connective tissue diseases.
BACKGROUND: Peripheral vascular abnormalities caused by a dysregulation between peripheral vasoconstriction and vasodilatation, clinically appearing with Raynaud's phenomenon, have been described in anorexia nervosa but specific characteristics of microcirculation in anorexic patients have not yet been studied. METHODS: We performed nailfold videocapillaroscopy to assess microcirculatory alteration in anorexic patients and found three different patterns: normal, aspecific and early scleroderma pattern. We also evaluated several laboratory and clinical parameters to better assess our capillaroscopic findings. RESULTS: None of the clinical parameters examined correlated with specific capillaroscopic findings. An increased risk of autoimmune diseases in eating disorderpatients has been described. Our results evidenced an association between early scleroderma capillaroscopic pattern and Raynaud's phenomenon that occurs in anorexia nervosapatients, whereas no significant association was found between all three capillaroscopic patterns and the presence of autoantibodies, as well as ESR and CRP values. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that patients with AN suffering from RP exhibit NVC findings typical of connective tissue diseases.
Entities:
Keywords:
Anorexia nervosa; Raynaud phenomenon; capillaroscopy; microcirculation; translational medicine
Authors: Maria Maddalena Sirufo; Enrica Maria Bassino; Francesca De Pietro; Lia Ginaldi; Massimo De Martinis Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-06-12 Impact factor: 3.390