A single observational cross sectional study of nailfold capillaroscopic patterns in connective tissue disorders.

Dr. Vidya Kharkar; Dr. Bhagyashri Abak; Dr. Anjali Rajadhyaksha

Volume : VII, Issue : IX, September - 2017

A single observational cross sectional study of nailfold capillaroscopic patterns in connective tissue disorders.

Dr. Vidya Kharkar, Dr. Bhagyashri Abak, Dr. Anjali Rajadhyaksha

Abstract :

Introduction: Connective tissue diseases(CTD) are progressive, multiorgan system diseases. Nailfold capillaroscopy is simple, noninvasive technique used to recognize macroangiopathic changes and serves as an evolving technique in the early diagnosis and prognosis of the various connective tissue disorders. Hence with the aim of improving the characterisation of various patterns of nail fold capillaroscopy in different connective tissue diseases, we decided to study the nailfold capillaroscopy in systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus and MCTD.

Method: We recruited total 37 patients of CTD coming to department of dermatology and performed nailfold capillaroscopy on them.

Results: We found sclerodermoid pattern in all the patients of systemic sclerosis thus highlighting the high negative predictive value of almost 100%. Glomeruloid capillary pattern with loss of architecture was seen in 24% of SLE patients which was a new finding and has not been described in literature. Due to small sample size its significance could not be established and hence further evaluation is needed in large scale studies.