Nailfold capillary abnormalities are associated with increased severity of Raynaud's phenomenon among patients with systemic sclerosis: a pilot study.

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective review of systemic sclerosis patients, finding that nailfold capillary abnormalities are significantly associated with more aggressive treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon, specifically the use of calcium channel blockers and other vasodilators compared to topical therapy or no treatment. This relationship indicates that routine nailfold capillary examination may assist in Raynaud's phenomenon risk stratification. It also highlights the need for further research on whether nailfold capillaries may be a non-invasive marker of more severe vascular complications within systemic sclerosis.