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Primary Raynaud’s phenomenon and nailfold videocapillaroscopy: age-related changes in capillary morphology

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Abstract

This study aimed to detect by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) the presence of age-related capillary morphological patterns in a large cohort of subjects affected by primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP). NVC was performed in 877 patients affected by PRP, divided into three age groups: <35, 35–55 and >55 years. The following qualitative parameters were assessed and compared in the three groups of patients: apical dilations, irregular (non-homogeneous) dilations, venous branch dilations, microhaemorrhages, tortuosities and subpapillary venous plexus visibility. Patients with either irregular dilations or venous branch dilations were found significantly younger than those without (p < 0.0001). The presence of either irregular or venous branch dilations seems to exclude the presence of apical dilations. Patients with microhaemorrhages were found significantly younger than those without (p = 0.05), and 81 % of patients without microhaemorrhages did not show irregular and venous branch dilations. The subpapillary venous plexus seems more visible in subjects with age < 35, as well as in those with age > 55 years (p < 0.0001). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between presence of apical and irregular dilations (p < 0.0001), apical dilations and venous branch dilations (p = 0.02), apical dilations and tortuosities (p = 0.0005), microhaemorrhages and tortuosities (p < 0.0001) and venous branch dilations and tortuosities (p = 0.02). Finally, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between irregular and venous branch dilations (p < 0.0001), irregular dilations and microhaemorrhages (p < 0.0001) and venous branch dilations and microhaemorrhages (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, our study detected different age-related morphological capillary changes mainly in younger patients with PRP, as well as statistically significant correlations between the presence of different capillary variables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratories and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS A.O.U. San Martino, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, no. 6, 16132, Genoa, Italy

    Carmen Pizzorni, Alberto Sulli, Barbara Ruaro, Amelia Chiara Trombetta, Maurizio Cutolo & Sabrina Paolino

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    Vanessa Smith

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  1. Carmen Pizzorni
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  2. Alberto Sulli
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  3. Vanessa Smith
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  4. Barbara Ruaro
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  5. Amelia Chiara Trombetta
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  6. Maurizio Cutolo
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  7. Sabrina Paolino
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Correspondence to Carmen Pizzorni.

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Pizzorni, C., Sulli, A., Smith, V. et al. Primary Raynaud’s phenomenon and nailfold videocapillaroscopy: age-related changes in capillary morphology. Clin Rheumatol 36, 1637–1642 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-016-3442-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-016-3442-3

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