Korean J Med.  2016 Jun;90(6):494-500. 10.3904/kjm.2016.90.6.494.

The Clinical Efficacy of Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Rheumatic Diseases

• Kim HS

• KMID: 2218770
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2016.90.6.494

Abstract

Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a non-invasive morphological study that routinely used to differentiate between a primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). Secondary RP is a manifestation of an underlying rheumatic disease that occurs in 80-95% of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 75% of patients with mixed connective tissue disease and in 20-25% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. These RP frequently precedes the underlying disease by many years. The well-established roles of NFC are the early diagnosis of SSc, and potential for predicting clinical complication, as like digital ulcers. The following review will present a technique about how to perform NFC and optimal assessment with emphasis on its possible role as a reliable diagnostic tool.

Keyword

Nailfold capillaroscopy; Rheumatic diseases

MeSH Terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Early Diagnosis
Humans
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Microscopic Angioscopy*
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Rheumatic Diseases*
Scleroderma, Systemic
Treatment Outcome*
Ulcer