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[Acral vasospasm in Crohn's disease]
P Gasser1, H Affolter, J P Schuppisser
1Internmedizinische und chirurgische Abteilung, St. Claraspital Basel.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|May 2, 1992
Summary
Patients with Crohn's disease exhibit impaired microcirculation, showing prolonged blood flow cessation during cold exposure and reduced capillary density. This suggests a vasospastic tendency in Crohn's disease affecting finger microcirculation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microcirculation Research
- Vasospasm Studies
Context:
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition.
- Microcirculatory abnormalities are increasingly recognized in systemic diseases.
- Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive method to assess microcirculation.
Purpose:
- To investigate microcirculatory abnormalities in patients with Crohn's disease.
- To assess digital capillary blood flow and vasoconstrictive responses.
- To compare nailfold capillary microscopy findings between Crohn's disease patients and healthy controls.
Summary:
- Fifty-five Crohn's disease patients and 55 controls underwent nailfold capillary microscopy.
- Patients showed significantly reduced capillary density (p < 0.001) and prolonged blood flow cessation upon cold exposure (mean 39s vs 19s).
- No significant difference in skin temperature was observed between groups, indicating a vasospastic tendency.
Impact:
- Findings suggest a vasospastic tendency in the microcirculation of Crohn's disease patients.
- Highlights potential diagnostic utility of nailfold capillaroscopy in assessing disease-related microvascular changes.
- Opens avenues for further research into the role of microvascular dysfunction in Crohn's disease pathogenesis.