What is Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy?
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).
What is Nailfold capillary?
Nailfold capillaroscopy (NV) represents the best method to analyse microvascular abnormalities in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Architectural disorganization, giant capillaries, haemorrhages, loss of capillaries, angiogenesis and avascular areas characterize >95% of patients with overt scleroderma (SSc).
What causes abnormal Nailfold capillaries?
Nailfold capillary abnormalities are present in more than 95% of patients with systemic sclerosis. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are inflammatory myopathies that cause symmetric proximal muscle weakness that is not generally painful. Nailfold capillary changes may be present in dermatomyositis1,7 and polymyositis.
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.
What is Nailfold capillary dropout?
Nailfold capillary dropout is generally considered a late NFC finding in scleroderma. However, capillary dropout can also be observed early in the disease evolution, particularly in those patients with diffuse scleroderma and extensive disease.
How do you get systemic sclerosis?
As previously mentioned, SS occurs when your body begins to overproduce collagen and it accumulates in your tissues. Collagen is the main structural protein that makes up all of your tissues. Doctors aren’t sure what causes the body to produce too much collagen.
Where is the Nailfold?
The proximal nail fold is a wedge of thickened skin at the base of the nail. It’s found on both your fingernails and toenails. The skin folds over the nail matrix and the base of the nail. The nail matrix produces the hard nail.
How serious is systemic sclerosis?
Systemic sclerosis (SSc, scleroderma) is the most serious form of the disease. This form of scleroderma can occur at any age but is most common in women of childbearing age.
What is the difference between primary and secondary Raynaud’s?
Primary Raynaud’s(or Raynaud’s disease) happens without any other illness behind it. The symptoms are often mild. Secondary Raynaud’s (Raynaud’s syndrome, Raynaud’s phenomenon) results from another illness. It’s often a condition that attacks your body’s connective tissues, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
What does crest syndrome mean?
CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia) syndrome is a member of the heterogeneous group of sclerodermas, and its name is an acronym for the cardinal clinical features of the syndrome.
What were your first symptoms of systemic sclerosis?
Early symptoms may include swelling and itchiness. Affected skin can become lighter or darker in color and may look shiny because of the tightness. Some people also experience small red spots, called telangiectasia, on their hands and face.
What is the best treatment for scleroderma?
Treating Scleroderma
- Getting pain relief through nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroids.
- Easing skin itchiness with skin lotions and moisturizers.
- Slowing skin thickening and minimizing damage to the internal organs with medication that suppresses the immune system.
Will Nailfold grow back?
Skin has amazing restorative powers, so if the frame or the proximal nail fold are cut, then it will recover. However, skin if continually cut, will grow thicker, to protect itself, and grow calluses and scar tissue.
What autoimmune diseases are associated with Raynaud’s?
The diseases most often linked with Raynaud’s are autoimmune or connective tissue diseases such as:
- Lupus (systemic lupus erythematous)
- Scleroderma.
- CREST syndrome (a form of scleroderma)
- Buerger disease.
- Sjögren syndrome.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Occlusive vascular disease, such as atherosclerosis.
- Polymyositis.
How long can you live with CREST?
The prognosis of CREST syndrome is relatively good with a long lasting disease duration (>10 years). Two complications are seldom associated with CREST syndrome: digital gangrene with finger losses and pulmonary hypertension (3 to 14% of CREST syndrome).
What is the best treatment for CREST syndrome?
Simple surgical management, including curettage, is often sufficient in limited disease. Treatment with oral corticosteroids is not usually considered effective, but, according to Hazen et al, intralesional corticosteroid therapy has been associated with improvement of calcinosis.