In-vivo capillary-microscopical findings in patients with thrombangiitis obliterans, progressive systemic...

Fourty patients with thrombangiitis obliterans were examined to find out whether in-vivo capillary microscopy can contribute to the establishment of a diagnosis. No capillary-microscopical signs could be detected that are exclusive to thrombangiitis obliterans. Nevertheless typical signs as capillary lengthening, capillary branching (53%) and haemorrhagic margin (75%) are of considerable differential-diagnostic value when it comes to distinguishing a case of thrombangiitis obliterans from a case of degenerative arterial occlusive disease. In a further series of examinations, the nailfold area of patients with progressive systemic scleroderma was examined by in-vivo capillary microscopy and with an ophthalmoscope. The coincidence of the findings between the two methods was 80% and more, so that the examination of the nailfold capillaries with an ophthalmoscope can aid verify the diagnosis of scleroderma. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis capillary tortuosities (85%), capillary branching (53%) and increased venule visibility (55%) often occur. These are unspecific signs. Typically capillary-microscopical symptoms for the disease are not detectable.