Association between nail-fold capillary findings and disease activity in dermatomyositis

Abstract

Our results suggest that changes in nail-fold capillaries reflect disease activity in DM. Furthermore, the differences found in red blood cell velocity may reflect somewhat distinct microcirculation injuries in DM and SSc.

Capillary blood flow imaging within human finger cuticle using optical microangiography

“…By using the tilt angle, 20°, between axial and actual velocity directions, the average absolute velocities are found as ~0.67 mm/s and ~0.61 mm/s for arteriole-end and venule-end capillaries, respectively. These results match with the expected values considering the typical RBC average velocity measured with healthy subjects using NVC is around 0.8 mm/s [22]. …”

“…The maximal and minimal detectable velocities are determined by the time interval T , the π-ambiguity and the system phase noise level [21]. Mapping of RBC velocities in human finger cuticle capillaries, which are typically from ~0.3 to 1 mm/s [22], requires relatively long T , i.e. very slow imaging speed (>20 min.…”

Sonography of the Nail

“…Changes in nail-fold capillaries have been reported to re fl ect disease activity in dermatomyositis [ 32 ] . Thus, periungual capillary changes such as dilated and tortuous blood vessels, areas of atrophy, telangiectasias, central areas of hemorrhages, splinter hemorrhages, and bushy capillary loop formation in the proximal nail fold have been reported [ 30,33 ] .…”

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy Alterations in Dermatomyositis and Systemic Sclerosis: Toward Identification of a Specific Pattern

“…Further studies suggested that scleroderma pattern observed in patients with SSc is subject to variations in the course of the disease 8,9,10 , and changes in the capillaroscopic patterns were also found in relation to disease activity 4,7,11 . Several studies describe the association between abnormalities in nailfold microvascular array and idiopathic myopathies (IM), often considering together polymyositis (PM) and DM 12,13,14 . Several studies describe the association between abnormalities in nailfold microvascular array and idiopathic myopathies (IM), often considering together polymyositis (PM) and DM 12,13,14 .…”