Evaluation of labial microvessels in Sjogren syndrome: a videocapillaroscopic study

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by a progressive lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, especially salivary and lachrymal ones, leading to xerostomia, parotid gland enlargement, and xerophtalmia. SS may occur alone (primary) or in association with almost any of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases (secondary), the most frequent being rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study is to describe the capillaroscopic pattern of the labial mucosa in patients with SS.

A total of 20 patients affected by SS and 20 healthy controls were examined. The patients with conditions that compromise microcirculation, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia or some pharmacological treatments, were not included in the study. All the patients were non-smokers. Labial capillaroscopy has been used to investigate the features of microcirculation. Visibility, course, tortuosity, as well as the possible presence of microhemorrhage, the average calibre of the capillary loops and the number of visible capillary loops per square millimetre were evaluated for each patient.

The results show evident alterations in the capillaries and a typical conformation of the labial microcirculation in SS patients.

Labial microcirculation alterations occur in SS patients. The study of the microcirculation in autoimmune pathology such as SS could provide new understanding on the dynamics of the pathology and could help to complete the diagnosis.