Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study

Abstract This study examines the correlation between nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) abnormalities and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in connective tissue disease (CTD) patients, evaluating its diagnostic and predictive value for microcirculation alterations. A cross-sectional study included 351 CTD...

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Main Authors: Zhicheng Tang, Fan Yang, Haolin Wu, Ying Zhao, Jingyi Shen, Huiming Hong, Fanzhang Yin, Xiaolei Ma, Linyu Geng, Xue Xu, Yu Wei, Huayong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92093-7
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author Zhicheng Tang
Fan Yang
Haolin Wu
Ying Zhao
Jingyi Shen
Huiming Hong
Fanzhang Yin
Xiaolei Ma
Linyu Geng
Xue Xu
Yu Wei
Huayong Zhang
author_facet Zhicheng Tang
Fan Yang
Haolin Wu
Ying Zhao
Jingyi Shen
Huiming Hong
Fanzhang Yin
Xiaolei Ma
Linyu Geng
Xue Xu
Yu Wei
Huayong Zhang
author_sort Zhicheng Tang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examines the correlation between nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) abnormalities and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in connective tissue disease (CTD) patients, evaluating its diagnostic and predictive value for microcirculation alterations. A cross-sectional study included 351 CTD patients and 30 non-CTD healthy people, with NVC assessments conducted qualitatively, semi-quantitatively, and quantitatively by two independent physicians. Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed, comparing CTD patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) and those without (CTD-non-PAH). Among the patients, 16.5% (n = 58) had pulmonary hypertension. CTD-PAH patients showed higher nailfold videocapillaroscopy scores (5.73 ± 3.54 vs. 4.30 ± 2.98, P = 0.001) and larger capillary diameters (17.06 ± 8.22 vs. 14.41 ± 9.25, P = 0.044) compared to CTD-non-PAH patients. Factors significantly influencing the nailfold videocapillaroscopy score included Raynaud’s phenomenon, pulmonary hypertension, and the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibody. The ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.621 nailfold videocapillaroscopy score for predicting PAH. Additionally, pulmonary artery systolic pressure in CTD-PAH patients was positively correlated with both nailfold videocapillaroscopy score (R = 0.618, B = 3.26, P < 0.001) and capillary diameter (R = 0.541, B = 1.23, P < 0.001). Nailfold videocapillaroscopy abnormalities, such as higher scores and increased capillary diameters, are associated with pulmonary hypertension in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD). This method demonstrates potential diagnostic and predictive value for detecting microcirculation alterations in these patients.
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spelling doaj-art-495c8f52a9024a0ea492a8ee4552731f2025-08-20T02:56:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-92093-7Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional studyZhicheng Tang0Fan Yang1Haolin Wu2Ying Zhao3Jingyi Shen4Huiming Hong5Fanzhang Yin6Xiaolei Ma7Linyu Geng8Xue Xu9Yu Wei10Huayong Zhang11Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineNantong Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese MedicineDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical UniversityAbstract This study examines the correlation between nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) abnormalities and pulmonary hypertension (PH) in connective tissue disease (CTD) patients, evaluating its diagnostic and predictive value for microcirculation alterations. A cross-sectional study included 351 CTD patients and 30 non-CTD healthy people, with NVC assessments conducted qualitatively, semi-quantitatively, and quantitatively by two independent physicians. Clinical and laboratory data were analyzed, comparing CTD patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) and those without (CTD-non-PAH). Among the patients, 16.5% (n = 58) had pulmonary hypertension. CTD-PAH patients showed higher nailfold videocapillaroscopy scores (5.73 ± 3.54 vs. 4.30 ± 2.98, P = 0.001) and larger capillary diameters (17.06 ± 8.22 vs. 14.41 ± 9.25, P = 0.044) compared to CTD-non-PAH patients. Factors significantly influencing the nailfold videocapillaroscopy score included Raynaud’s phenomenon, pulmonary hypertension, and the presence of anti-Scl-70 antibody. The ROC analysis yielded an AUC of 0.621 nailfold videocapillaroscopy score for predicting PAH. Additionally, pulmonary artery systolic pressure in CTD-PAH patients was positively correlated with both nailfold videocapillaroscopy score (R = 0.618, B = 3.26, P < 0.001) and capillary diameter (R = 0.541, B = 1.23, P < 0.001). Nailfold videocapillaroscopy abnormalities, such as higher scores and increased capillary diameters, are associated with pulmonary hypertension in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD). This method demonstrates potential diagnostic and predictive value for detecting microcirculation alterations in these patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92093-7Nailfold videocapillaroscopyPulmonary hypertensionConnective tissue diseaseMicrocirculation
spellingShingle Zhicheng Tang
Fan Yang
Haolin Wu
Ying Zhao
Jingyi Shen
Huiming Hong
Fanzhang Yin
Xiaolei Ma
Linyu Geng
Xue Xu
Yu Wei
Huayong Zhang
Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study
Scientific Reports
Nailfold videocapillaroscopy
Pulmonary hypertension
Connective tissue disease
Microcirculation
title Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study
title_full Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study
title_short Alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension: A cross-sectional study
title_sort alterations in nailfold videocapillaroscopy among patients with connective tissue diseases combined with pulmonary arterial hypertension a cross sectional study
topic Nailfold videocapillaroscopy
Pulmonary hypertension
Connective tissue disease
Microcirculation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92093-7
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