INTRODUCTION The aim of the present study was to demonstrate, by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), the existence of diagnostic and follow-up parameters of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis (SS) (grouped in the "early", "active" and "late" NVC patterns). The presence of the different subsets of skin involvement (limSS and difSS), as well as the role of some specific serum autoantibodi...

Abstract Background Although pulmonary vascular bed has been the main subject of research for many years in hypertension (PH), interest recently started to divert towards possibility a co-existing peripheral microangiopathy. The aim current study was investigate presence nailfold video-capillaroscopic (NVC) structural changes patients with precapillary PH and identify possible associations NVC ...

OBJECTIVE To describe the characteristics of a cohort of patients with lung-dominant connective tissue disease (LD-CTD). METHODS This was a retrospective study of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) results (≥ 1/320), with or without specific autoantibodies, and at least one clinical feature suggestive of connective tissue disease (CTD). RESULT...

Background: Microvascular changes are one of the first obvious steps in numerous inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nailfold video capillaroscopy (NFC) is an easy, reliable and safe method for evaluating peripheral microangiopathy. The objective of this study was to examine nailfold microcirculation in RA patients, assess morphological and structural changes quantitatively...

To date, many methods have entered rheumatological practice in order to evaluate more accurately the microcirculation. Most of them are non-invasive or minimally invasive, easily accessible, providing different information depending on specifics study.
 Over years, some (such as chromametry and volumetry) lost their routine application acquired rather historical significance, while others ...

OBJECTIVE To develop revised criteria for the diagnosis of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) using an international consensus process. METHODS An initial survey was circulated to members of the Network for JDM and the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO). Each individual was asked to identify those criteria that were felt to be most helpful in the diagnosis of class...