Nailfold capillaroscopy and organ involvement in systemic sclerosis: a systematic review - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #Nailfold capillaroscopy
- #Microvascular damage
- #Systemic sclerosis
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by early microvascular damage and tissue fibrosis.
- Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) assesses microangiopathy and classifies into 'scleroderma patterns' for prognostic value.
- This systematic review links NVC findings with organ-specific involvement in SSc, focusing on longitudinal studies with centralised reading.
- Reduced capillary density (<7 capillaries/mm) and 'Active/Late' scleroderma patterns predict disease progression.
- Low capillary density and 'Active/Late' patterns are associated with severe skin fibrosis, digital ulcers, calcinosis, pulmonary hypertension, and interstitial lung disease.
- Lower capillary density predicts major cardiovascular events, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and subclinical renal vasculopathy.
- In Early SSc, 'Active' or 'Late' patterns increase the likelihood of progression to definite SSc.
- Reduced capillary density indicates a more severe phenotype with worse prognosis.
- Integrating NVC into routine assessment may help identify high-risk patients early and prevent irreversible organ damage.