Use of nailfold video capillaroscopy in polycythemia vera

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate capillary vessel diameters and structural changes of capillaries by using nailfold video-capillaroscopy in patients with Polycythemia Vera. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 24 patients (19 males, 5 females; mean age: 62.5±2 years; range, 50.2 to 68 years) with Polycythemia vera and 15 healthy controls (11 males, 4 females; mean age: 40±2 years; range, 36 to 44 years) between June 2016 and February 2017. Nailfold video-capillaroscopy was performed by an experienced rheumatologist, blinded to clinical data. The apical, arterial, and venous limb diameters of capillaries were measured and microvascular changes of capillaries were scored. Results: When capillaries were evaluated in terms of morphological structures, giant capillary was detected 67% in the patients with Polycythemia vera, while it was not detected in the control group. The arterial, venous and apical diameters of the capillaries were significantly higher in the patients with Polycythemia vera compared to the control group [(38.33 µm vs. 21.23 µm, p <0.001), (48.41 µm vs. 27.48 µm p <0.001), (55.80 µm etc. 36.61 µm, p <0.001), respectively]. Conclusion: The presence of giant capillaries and the marked increase of arterial, venous, and apical diameters of capillaries seem to be related to Polycythemia vera.