Nailfold capillary abnormalities and clinical outcome in childhood dermatomyositis

The nailfold capillary pattern was observed in a population of patients with childhood dermatomyositis. Distinctive nailfold capillary loop abnormalities were found in 11 of 19 childhood dermatomyositis patients and in none of 2 control populations (P less than 0.001). By a retrospective analysis of the childhood dermatomyositis patients, we found that the presence of nailfold capillary abnormalities correlates with more severe forms of the disease (ulcerative and chronic types), as opposed to limited type of disease. These changes occurred independently of disease activity or of cutaneous abnormalities.