Abstract

RESTREPO, Juan Pablo; GUTIERREZ, Marwin; DE ANGELIS, Rossella  and  GRASSI, Walter. El papel de la capilaroscopia del lecho ungueal en reumatología. Rev.Colomb.Reumatol. [online]. 2008, vol.15, n.3, pp.187-195. ISSN 0121-8123.

Nailfold capillaroscopy is a simple, non-invasive, inexpensive and useful method for the analysis of microvascular abnormalities that can be found in rheumatic disorders. The well-known Raynaud’s phenomenon represents a clinical condition that should promptly lead to a microvascular analysis, in order to distinguish its primary form from the secondary. Capillaroscopy has an exceptional predictive value for the diagnosis of early systemic sclerosis and this may be the best advantage this technique can offer. Microvascular damage is a typical feature of systemic sclerosis and a great number of this patients present architectural disorganization, tortuositis, giant capillaries, neovascularization haemorrhages, loss of capIllaries and avascular areas. These capillaroscopic changes characterize the “scleroderma pattern” and reflect the scleroderma microangiopathy. Microvascular abnormalities have also been found in other systemic rheumatic diseases such as dermatomyositis, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, undifferentiated connective tissue disease and antiphospholipid syndrome. The aim of this review is to describe the applications and limits of naifold capillaroscopy in the rheumatological clinical practice.

Keywords : nailfold capillaroscopy; microcirculation; megacapillaries; avascular areas; angiogenesis; scleroderma pattern; Raynaud’s phenomenon.

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