Usefulness of nailfold videocapillaroscopy for systemic sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Vascular Biology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Systemic sclerosis involves autoimmunity, inflammation, fibrosis, and vasculopathy.
• Microvascular damage is an early marker of systemic sclerosis.
• Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) detects these microvascular changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role of NVC in diagnosing and assessing systemic sclerosis.
• To emphasize NVC's utility in clinical application and treatment outcome assessment.
• To discuss how NVC can help overcome diagnostic delays and clinical heterogeneity in systemic sclerosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of the 2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis.
• Analysis of nailfold capillary abnormalities as diagnostic and prognostic markers.
• Discussion of the application of qualitative and semi-quantitative NVC image assessment.

Main Results:

• NVC detects early morphological and functional markers of systemic sclerosis.
• Nailfold capillary abnormalities are included in the updated ACR/EULAR criteria.
• Reduced capillary density correlates with increased risk of digital ulcers and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Conclusions:

• NVC is crucial for early diagnosis and assessing severity and progression of systemic sclerosis.
• Appropriate use of NVC can help address challenges in diagnosis and treatment.
• NVC may offer insights into the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis.