Nailfold capillary microscopy: a new technique for finger systolic pressure measurement

To assess the value of nailfold capillary microscopy (N.C.M.) for measuring finger systolic pressure (F.S.P.), 25 patients were studied by N.C.M. and plethysmography. Twelve of them presented Raynaud's phenomenon. The results revealed that N.C.M. can be correlated with plethysmography for measuring F.S.P. Therefore, N.C.M. with F.S.P. measurement is a practical, inexpensive method, and provides an additional microvascular diagnostic evaluation.