J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2005 Sep;12(3):197-205.

Comparison between Power Doppler Ultrasonography and Nailfold Capillaroscopy for the Differentiation of Raynaud's Phenomenon

• Lee SI
• Lee SY
• Yoo WH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) in diagnosing Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and in differentiating primary RP from secondary RP comparing with nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC).
METHODS
Microvascularity in the nailfold and finger tip of ten healthy controls and 36 patients with primary RP (n=16) or secondary RP (systemic sclerosis, n=20) was evaluated using PDU before and after cold challenge, respectively. Also, NFC was performed in all persons. The results of PDU were compared with the findings of NFC.
RESULTS
According to the change of microvascularities before and after cold challenge, the findings of PDU are classified into 3 patterns such as normal, primary RP, and secondary RP. PDU yielded a correct classification in 87.5% of the persons analyzed (normal=100%, primary RP=87.5%, secondary RP=75%) and confirmed presence of RP in all patients with clinically diagnosed RP. There was good correlation between PDU and NFC examination for differentiating primary RP from secondary RP (Kappa=0.611, p<0.01).
CONCLUSION
The PDU technique is a useful and reliable method to diagnose RP and to discriminate between primary RP and secondary RP and the results of PDU is well correlated with those of NFC examination.

Keyword

Raynaud's phenomenon; Doppler ultrasonography; Capillaroscopy

MeSH Terms

Classification
Fingers
Humans
Microscopic Angioscopy*
Sclerosis
Ultrasonography, Doppler*