What is a Nailfold capillaroscopy?

Nailfold capillaroscopy is a highly sensitive, inexpensive, simple, safe, and noninvasive imaging technique used in the morphological analysis of nourishing capillaries in the nailfold area [1.

What is capillaroscopy and why is it performed?

Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive, easy and safe diagnostic technique designed to evaluate small vessels of the microcirculation in the nailfold. It can reveal both the general architecture of capillary rows and fine details of particular vessels.

Why is Raynaud’s associated with systemic sclerosis?

Raynaud’s phenomenon is common in scleroderma and occurs because of an inappropriate and exaggerated contraction of the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes in response to the cold or emotional distress. When this happens, the digits may turn white, blue or red, and feel painful or numb.

What is Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy?

Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is an easy tool used for the assessment of patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) as possibly associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Recent insights have also highlighted its role in the diagnostic assessment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).

Can you see Nailfold capillaries?

Dr. Herrick explains, “At the nailfold, capillaries run parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the skin surface, and they can, therefore, be visualized noninvasively when magnified. Capillaries themselves are invisible, but what can be seen is the column of red blood cells within the capillaries.”

What is Nailfold?

The MDAD approach to nailfold dermatoscopy considers capillary morphology, diameter, architecture and density. In Raynaud’s phenomenon, nailfold dermatoscopy assists in the diagnosis of an underlying connective tissue disease.

Does Raynaud’s turn into scleroderma?

Most people diagnosed with Raynaud’s will not develop scleroderma, which only affects 0.1% of everyone who has Raynaud’s. This is because the majority of people who are living with Raynaud’s will have the primary form, with symptoms of cold hands and feet and painful attacks with changes in temperature.

Is Raynaud’s always scleroderma?

A small percentage of people with Raynaud’s phenomenon develop scleroderma. Conversely, almost everyone with scleroderma has Raynaud’s symptoms. This is secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, so-named because it is secondary to the scleroderma.

Can primary Raynaud’s turn into secondary?

The causes of primary Raynaud’s are unclear. However 1 in 10 people with primary Raynaud’s goes on to develop a condition associated with secondary Raynaud’s, such as lupus.