[Periungual capillary microscopy in patients with chronic polyarthritis and psoriasis arthropathica]

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of nail bed capillary abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. In 10 per cent of rheumatoid patients the morphological pattern of the nail bed capillaries of the ten fingers was remarkably variable. Long capillaries and a clearly visible subpapillary plexus were the most prominent findings in these patients. The only significant finding observed in patients with psoriatic arthritis was a high subpapillary plexus visibility. Avascular areas and giant loops (typical of scleroderma) were not found in either disorder.