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Updated: Mar 18, 2026
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Capillaroscopic findings and vascular biomarkers in systemic sclerosis: Association of low CD40L levels with late
Yasemin Yalçınkaya1, Suzan Adın-Çınar2, Bahar Artim-Esen1
1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between vascular biomarkers reflecting the vascular injury and neoangiogenesis with capillaroscopic changes in systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Methods:
Nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) was performed qualitatively (early, active and late scleroderma patterns) in 72 SSc patients (66 female) fulfilling ACR/EULAR (2013) criteria. Serum samples of patients were collected and analysed by flow cytometer with multiplex kits of sCD40L, tPA, MCP-1, sE-selectin, IL-8, IL-6, VEGF, sP-selectin, TGF-β1 and VCAM at the same time with NVC.
Results:
Compared to healthy subjects; tPA (p=0.02), MCP-1 (p=0.001), sE-selectin (p=0.008) and TGF-β1 (p=0.001) levels were significantly higher, however sP-selectin (p=0.011) and IL-8 (p=0.001) levels were lower in SSc patients. SSc patients were defined according to NVC patterns as 'early' (n=10), 'active' (n=37) and 'late' (n=25). According to NVC patterns of SSc patients, only sCD40L levels were significantly lower in the 'late' group (p=0.039). The other markers were similar among NVC groups.
Conclusions:
NVC is a useful method for investigating the vascular pathogenesis and severity of SSc. Although the levels were similar to healthy controls in patients with early/active NVC patterns, there were lower sCD40L serum levels in patients with late NVC pattern. CD40L may have a role in the early/active phase of vascular involvement.
