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Nailfold Capillaroscopy

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Raynaud’s Phenomenon

Abstract

Nailfold capillary microscopy evaluates the morphology of capillaries and has been performed since the seventeenth century. In a patient population affected by the phenomenon of Raynaud (RP) its major role lies in pinpointing those patients who will develop systemic sclerosis (SSc) and in reassuring those patients who have (and will continue to have) a primary (idiopathic) RP. This chapter explains what nailfold capillary microscopy is and elaborates on its place in RP. Data on associations with laser, evaluating the flow of the microvasculature, will be hinted at.

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Abbreviations

ACR:

American College of Rheumatology

ANA:

Anti-nuclear antibodies

CTD:

Connective tissue disease

DM:

Dermatomyositis

EULAR:

European League Against Rheu-matism

EUSTAR:

Eular Scleroderma Trials and Research group

MCTD:

Mixed connective tissue disease

NPV:

Negative predictive value

NVC:

Nailfold videocapillaroscopy

PPV:

Positive predictive value

RP:

Raynaud’s phenomenon

SDS:

Scleroderma spectrum

SDS:

Scleroderma spectrum disease

SLE:

Systemic lupus erythematodes

SS:

Sjögren’s syndrome

SSc:

Systemic sclerosis

UCTD:

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease

VEDOSS:

Very early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratories and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

    Maurizio Cutolo

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

    Vanessa Smith MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Maurizio Cutolo
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  2. Vanessa Smith MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maurizio Cutolo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Fredrick M. Wigley

  2. Department of Rheumatology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Ariane L. Herrick

  3. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medic, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Nicholas A. Flavahan

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Cutolo, M., Smith, V. (2015). Nailfold Capillaroscopy. In: Wigley, F., Herrick, A., Flavahan, N. (eds) Raynaud’s Phenomenon. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1526-2_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1526-2_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1525-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1526-2

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