Capillaroscopic findings in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: Nail fold capillaroscopy has a potential for determining the microvascular disease and following microvascular hearth involvement in autoimmune romatic diseases. In this study, we aimed to describe the capillaroscopic abnormalities observed in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), associating them with clinical and serologic features. Material and Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients with RA were studied by clinical evaluation, serology, and proximal nail fold capillaroscopy. Capillaroscopic findings were investigated in 3 categories; normal, nonspecific and scleroderma pattern. Results: Consecutive 52 patients (41 /78.8% female, 11 /21.2% male) patients with a mean age of 50.9±12.48 years were involved in the study. Nail fold capillaroscopy was normal in 67.3% of RA patients; 13.46% had non-specific abnormalities, and 19.2% presented a scleroderma-like pattern. Few enlarged capillaries (n=10), few hemorrhages (n=6) and avascular areas (n=1) were detected among these patients. These findings were consistent with early capillaroscopy pattern except one patient. No association between the presence of rheumatoid factor, Raynaud phenomenon, disease duration, disease activity, erosion or deformity and the localization of the involved joints with nail fold capillaroscopy findings was found. Conclusion: The observation of SD-like pattern on nail fold capillaroscopy in 19% of RA patients has shown that this noninvasive diagnostic technique is very useful in complete evaluation of patients with RA. Copyright © 2011 by Türkiye Klinikleri.