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[Peri-ungual capillaroscopy in atherosclerosis]
L Santos1, I Fonseca, R Ferreira
1Serviço de Medicina I, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra.
Insights
Peri-ungueal capillaroscopy (PUC) detects early signs of atherosclerosis in microcirculation. Lesions are not specific but indicate disease severity and progression, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Dermatology
- Cardiology
Context:
- Atherosclerosis impacts major vessels and microcirculation, leading to distal ischemia.
- Assessing microvascular changes is crucial for understanding disease consequences.
Purpose:
- To evaluate lesions from atherosclerosis using peri-ungueal capillaroscopy (PUC).
- To determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of PUC in atherosclerotic disease.
Summary:
- 210 patients with atherosclerosis risk factors or disease were studied using PUC.
- Patients were grouped by lesion severity observed via PUC.
- Capillaroscopic findings, while non-specific, correlate with disease severity and appear early.
Impact:
- PUC can identify early microcirculatory changes in atherosclerosis.
- The severity of capillaroscopic lesions reflects the overall atherosclerotic burden.
- This non-invasive technique may aid in early diagnosis and prognosis assessment.
Abstract:
The pathology of the major vessels also affects microcirculation, making possible to evaluate at the distal sector the consequences of an ischaemia, due to an artery disease, for instance. This work had as its main aim to evaluate by peri-ungueal capillaroscopy (PUC) the lesions due to an atherosclerotic process and the prognosis and/or diagnosis value of this exam. We studied 210 patients with either risk factors for atherosclerosis or atherosclerotic disease, who were divided into groups according to the severity of the lesions seen in PUC. Finally, we were able to conclude that although the capillaroscopic lesions found are not specific, they appear very early in the process and are more serious in the more severe cases.