Evaluation of Capillaroscopy Findings in Patients Presenting with Raynaud`s Phenomenon (RP): A Retrospective Study

Authors : Salim Mısırcı, Ali Ekin, Burcu Yağız, Belkis Nihan Coskun, Hüseyin Ediz Dalkılıç, Yavuz Pehlivan

Pages : 133-138

Doi:10.32708/uutfd.1649435

View : 45 | Download : 64

Publication Date : 2025-05-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Raynaud\\\'s phenomenon (RP) is a discoloration of the fingers due to abnormal vasoconstriction in the digital arteries and cutaneous arterioles in response to cold or emotional stress. The study included patients who presented to a tertiary rheumatology clinic with RP between September 2022 and April 2023 and underwent nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC). Of the included patients, 34 (57.6%) were diagnosed with inflammatory rheumatic disease (IRD) and 25 (42.4%) with primary RP. When analysing antibodies, the most common antibody was antinuclear antibody (ANA) (n=39, 66.1%), and most of them were positive with a low titer (n=22, 37.3%). When comparing patients with and without IRD, the capillary density of ≥7 per 1 millimetre was sufficient in all patients in the group without IRD. There was a decrease in capillary density ( 50 μm) (p=0.005). In the IRD group, 14 (41.18%) patients had a scleroderma (SCL) pattern and 20 (58.82%) had a non-SCL pattern. In the non-IRD group, all but two patients had a non-SCL pattern. Age, ANA positivity, high ANA titer, presence of giant capillaries and SCL pattern had a positive significant discriminatory effect (p<0.05) in distinguishing between patients with and without IRD. NFC assessment is an important tool in the diagnosis of IRDs such as systemic sclerosis. Advanced age, SCL pattern, giant capillaries and ANA positivity should be warning signs of secondary RP.
Keywords : inflamatuvar romatizmal hastalık, kapilleroskopi, raynoud fenomeni, sistemik skleroz

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