The role of a capillaroscopy in dermatomyositis

Abstract

Nailfold capillaroscopy is an essential imaging technique and the best method to analyse microvascular abnormalities in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Capillary microscopy seems to be a useful tool for early selection of those patients who are potentially candidates for developing scleroderma spectrum disorders, especially systemic sclerosis (SSc) and dermatomyositis (DM). In patients with DM, capillaroscopic abnormalities may be similar to those seen in patients with SSc, such as architectural derangement of the nailfold capillary network and prevalent features of marked angiogenesis. Scleroderma pattern was found in 71% of DM patients. Changes in nailfold capillaries reflect disease activity in DM, especially muscle disease activity. Also, loss of capillaries was associated with muscle and global disease activities, and haemorrhage was associated with cutaneous disease activity. Anti-Jo-1 antibody was associated with reduced capillary density. Nailfold capillaroscopy changes such as irregularly enlarged capillaries, haemorrhages and loss of capillaries were improved by disease stabilization in DM. Therefore, monitoring these changes will likely be useful in evaluating disease activity and therapeutic efficacy in patients with DM. © 2017 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.