Abstract
Introduction: Nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) is a useful tool for measuring capillary density (CD) and capillary morphology parameters and is mainly used in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Objective: We aimed to assess the prevalence of an SSc pattern and CD in different connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Methods: NVC was performed on 268 patients with CTDs. Control groups consisted of 104 healthy volunteers (HVs) and 36 primary Raynaud’s patients (PRPs). Results: Decreased CD was more prevalent in SSc, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory myopathies (IIM), and overlap CTD patients compared with both controls. Average CD, the prevalence of decreased CD, and the prevalence of an SSc pattern did not differ significantly between SSc patients with (n = 39) and without (n = 50) overlap syndrome. An SSc pattern was significantly more prevalent in SLE (23%), SSc (82%), IIM (35%), and rheumatoid arthritis (17%) compared with both control groups. The prevalence of an elevated microangiopathy evaluation score (MES) was significantly higher in SLE, SSc, and IIM than in the HVs. Conclusion: The presence of another CTD in SSc did not influence CD or morphology. An SSc pattern may also be present in CTDs other than SSc. The MES is a useful instrument to distinguish between patients with CTDs and controls.
Highlights
Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive method used to evaluate capillary density (CD)and morphology
systemic sclerosis (SSc)-systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap was present in six cases, SSc-antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) overlap was detected in two cases, SSc-IIM in five cases, SSc-s syndrome (SS) overlap in nine cases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) overlap in six cases, and in the case of one patient, ANCA-associated vasculitis was classified in addition to SSc
Results are represented as median values; b SSc, systemic sclerosis; c CTDs, connective tissue diseases; d SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; e APS, antiphospholipid syndrome; f IIM, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies; g SS, Sjögren’s syndrome; h RA, rheumatoid arthritis; i vasculitis, patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis; j primary Raynaud’s patients (PRPs), primary Raynaud’s phenomenon; k HV, healthy volunteers; * p < 0.05 or lower significance compared with PRP j ; # p < 0.05 or lower significance compared with HV k
Summary
We aimed to assess the prevalence of an SSc pattern and CD in different connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Results: Decreased CD was more prevalent in SSc, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory myopathies (IIM), and overlap CTD patients compared with both controls. Average CD, the prevalence of decreased CD, and the prevalence of an SSc pattern did not differ significantly between SSc patients with (n = 39). An SSc pattern was significantly more prevalent in SLE (23%), SSc (82%), IIM (35%), and rheumatoid arthritis (17%) compared with both control groups. The prevalence of an elevated microangiopathy evaluation score (MES) was significantly higher in SLE, SSc, and IIM than in the HVs. Conclusion: The presence of another CTD in SSc did not influence CD or morphology.
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