Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis
Objective To investigate and distinguish detailed nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) findings in patients with limited (lcSSc) and diffuse (dcSSc) cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods A total of 157 patients was recruited, 100 with lcSSc, 27 with dcSSc and 30 with primary Raynaud phenomenon (p...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-07-01
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| Series: | RMD Open |
| Online Access: | https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/11/3/e005716.full |
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| author | Sabrina Paolino Vanessa Smith Maurizio Cutolo Alberto Sulli Carmen Pizzorni Emanuele Gotelli Rosanna Campitiello Ana Margarida Correia |
| author_facet | Sabrina Paolino Vanessa Smith Maurizio Cutolo Alberto Sulli Carmen Pizzorni Emanuele Gotelli Rosanna Campitiello Ana Margarida Correia |
| author_sort | Sabrina Paolino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective To investigate and distinguish detailed nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) findings in patients with limited (lcSSc) and diffuse (dcSSc) cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods A total of 157 patients was recruited, 100 with lcSSc, 27 with dcSSc and 30 with primary Raynaud phenomenon (pRP). The NVC SSc pattern and the absolute number of capillaries (per linear millimetre) were performed at the first NVC analysis. ‘Early’/‘Active’ NVC status (capillary dilations, microhaemorrhages and giant capillaries) and ‘Late’ NVC status (number of capillaries, altered microvascular architecture and abnormal capillary shapes) were scored.Results A statistically significant difference in the absolute number of capillaries between patients with lcSSc, dcSSc and pRP was found (p<0.001). Capillary number loss was present in both SSc subgroups and it was significantly higher in patients with dcSSc compared with lcSSc (4.89±1.53 vs 6.18±1.75, p<0.001). A significantly higher ‘Late’ NVC status score was observed in patients with dcSSc (p<0.001), including lower capillary density (p<0.001), altered shapes (p<0.001) and presence of abnormal shapes (p=0.005). Correlations showed that higher modified Rodnan Skin Score is associated with decreased capillary number and higher ‘Late’ NVC status score (p<0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant association was established between ‘Late’ SSc pattern and dcSSc (p=0.004) and between ‘Early’ SSc pattern and lcSSc (p=0.010). The absolute capillary number was normal and significantly higher in patients with pRP (p<0.001) than in all patients with SSc.Conclusions The current investigation underlines the importance of NVC detailed analysis and scoring in discriminating the severity of microvascular damage between lcSSc and dcSSc. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e88488b1c9b448e79541de2fbe6697a4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-5933 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
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| series | RMD Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-e88488b1c9b448e79541de2fbe6697a42025-08-20T03:30:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupRMD Open2056-59332025-07-0111310.1136/rmdopen-2025-005716Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysisSabrina Paolino0Vanessa Smith1Maurizio Cutolo2Alberto Sulli3Carmen Pizzorni4Emanuele Gotelli5Rosanna Campitiello6Ana Margarida Correia7Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyRheumatology and Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, BelgiumLaboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyLaboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyLaboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyLaboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyLaboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, ItalyRheumatology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde de Braga, Braga, PortugalObjective To investigate and distinguish detailed nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) findings in patients with limited (lcSSc) and diffuse (dcSSc) cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc).Methods A total of 157 patients was recruited, 100 with lcSSc, 27 with dcSSc and 30 with primary Raynaud phenomenon (pRP). The NVC SSc pattern and the absolute number of capillaries (per linear millimetre) were performed at the first NVC analysis. ‘Early’/‘Active’ NVC status (capillary dilations, microhaemorrhages and giant capillaries) and ‘Late’ NVC status (number of capillaries, altered microvascular architecture and abnormal capillary shapes) were scored.Results A statistically significant difference in the absolute number of capillaries between patients with lcSSc, dcSSc and pRP was found (p<0.001). Capillary number loss was present in both SSc subgroups and it was significantly higher in patients with dcSSc compared with lcSSc (4.89±1.53 vs 6.18±1.75, p<0.001). A significantly higher ‘Late’ NVC status score was observed in patients with dcSSc (p<0.001), including lower capillary density (p<0.001), altered shapes (p<0.001) and presence of abnormal shapes (p=0.005). Correlations showed that higher modified Rodnan Skin Score is associated with decreased capillary number and higher ‘Late’ NVC status score (p<0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant association was established between ‘Late’ SSc pattern and dcSSc (p=0.004) and between ‘Early’ SSc pattern and lcSSc (p=0.010). The absolute capillary number was normal and significantly higher in patients with pRP (p<0.001) than in all patients with SSc.Conclusions The current investigation underlines the importance of NVC detailed analysis and scoring in discriminating the severity of microvascular damage between lcSSc and dcSSc.https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/11/3/e005716.full |
| spellingShingle | Sabrina Paolino Vanessa Smith Maurizio Cutolo Alberto Sulli Carmen Pizzorni Emanuele Gotelli Rosanna Campitiello Ana Margarida Correia Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis RMD Open |
| title | Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis |
| title_full | Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis |
| title_fullStr | Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis |
| title_short | Differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis: a detailed analysis |
| title_sort | differences in nailfold capillaroscopy findings between limited and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis a detailed analysis |
| url | https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/11/3/e005716.full |
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