Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Green light may improve diagnostic accuracy of nailfold capillaroscopy with a simple digital videomicroscope

  • Short Communication - Imaging
  • Published:
Rheumatology International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive and safe technique for the analysis of microangiopathologies. Imaging quality of widely used simple videomicroscopes is poor. The use of green illumination instead of the commonly used white light may improve contrast. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of green illumination with white illumination, regarding capillary density, the number of microangiopathologies, and sensitivity and specificity for systemic sclerosis. Five rheumatologists have evaluated 80 images; 40 images acquired with green light, and 40 images acquired with white light. A larger number of microangiopathologies were found in images acquired with green light than in images acquired with white light. This results in slightly higher sensitivity with green light in comparison with white light, without reducing the specificity. These findings suggest that green instead of white illumination may facilitate evaluation of capillaroscopic images obtained with a low-cost digital videomicroscope.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  1. Cutolo M, Sulli A, Smith V (2013) How to perform and interpret capillaroscopy. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 27:237–248

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Larsen ELP, Randeberg LL, Olstad E, Haugen OA, Aksnes A, Svaasand LO (2011) Hyperspectral imaging of atherosclerotic plaques in vitro. J Biomed Opt 16:026011. doi:10.1117/1.3540657

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson ME, Allen PD, Moore T et al (2005) Computerized nailfold video capillaroscopy—a new tool for assessment of Raynaud’s phenomenon. J Rheumatol 32:841–848

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Slaaf DW, Tangelder GJ, Reneman RS, Jäger K, Bollinger A (1987) A versatile incident illuminator for intravital microscopy. Int J Microcirc Clin Exp 6:391–397

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Goedhart PT, Khalilzada M, Bezemer R, Merza J, Ince C (2007) Sidestream dark field (SDF) imaging: a novel stroboscopic LED ring-based imaging modality for clinical assessment of the microcirculation. Opt Express 15:15101–15114

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Groner W, Winkelman JW, Harris AG, Ince C, Bouma GJ, Messmer K, Nadeau RG (1999) Orthogonal polarization spectral imaging: a new method for study of the microcirculation. Nat Med 5:1209–1212

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Treu CM, Lupi O, Bottino DA, Bouskela E (2011) Sidestream dark field imaging: the evolution of real-time visualization of cutaneous microcirculation and its potential application in dermatology. Arch Dermatol Res 303:69–78

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bauersachs RM, Lössner F (1997) The poor man’s capillary microscope. A novel technique for the assessment of capillary morphology. Ann Rheum Dis 56(7):435–437

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hein J. Bernelot Moens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Weekenstroo, H.H.A., Cornelissen, B.M.W. & Bernelot Moens, H.J. Green light may improve diagnostic accuracy of nailfold capillaroscopy with a simple digital videomicroscope. Rheumatol Int 35, 1069–1071 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-014-3193-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-014-3193-x

Keywords

Navigation