Office nail fold capillary microscopy using ophthalmoscope

A method for performing capillary microscopy using an ophthalmoscope is described. Using this technic, we examined 130 patients with various connective tissue diseases. As in prior studies, four patterns could be discerned; scleroderma (SD) pattern, lupus erythematosus (LE) pattern, normal pattern, and a nonspecific pattern. Of the patients with systemic SD, 70% had SD pattern. Of LE patients, 53% had LE pattern. There was little crossover. It is hoped that the use of the ophthalmoscope will result in the widespread use of capillary microscopy.