[Capillary microscopy controlled nail fold biopsy in the diagnosis of collagen disease and vasculitis]

In cases of suspected microangiopathies morphologic abnormal capillaries were identified and marked by nailfold capillary microscopy (NCM). The marked nailfold areas were precisely biopsied and the biopsies were examined by electronic-microscopy and light microscopy (HE and immune-histochemical). Histological findings well correlated with clinical and capillaroscopical findings. It is concluded that NCM-assisted nailfold biopsy helps to achieve histologic proof of microangiopathies and improves diagnostic accuracy in collagen vascular diseases and vasculitides.