Scleroderma Types Systemic Symptoms Raynaud's Diagnosis

Nailfold Capillaroscopy for Secondary Raynaud's: Other Diseases

Overview

Nailfold capillaroscopy can also be useful for the diagnosis of secondary Raynaud's due to diseases other than scleroderma, including glaucoma, graft vs. host disease, primary pulmonary hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and vascular diseases.

Glaucoma

Nailfold capillary morphology and platelet function in patients with exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). Our findings revealed nailfold capillary morphological vascular changes in XFG patients. PubMed, PLoS One, 2019 Jul 9;14(7):e0219505.

Graft vs. Host Disease

Nailfold capillaroscopy differs widely between systemic sclerosis and chronic graft vs host disease of the skin. (Also see What is Scleroderma? and Graft vs. Host Disease)

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Primary pulmonary hypertension is not associated with scleroderma nailfold changes.

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is high blood pressure in the arteries which take blood between the heart and lungs. Primary pulmonary hypertension occurs by itself and not secondary to another illness, such as scleroderma. Nailfold capillary examination can easily tell whether pulmonary hypertension is primary or secondary. ISN.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in rheumatoid arthritis is not associated with markers of vasculopathy in distal microvascular beds. Among RA patients, UAE was not associated with markers of vasculopathy in distal microvascular beds. PubMed, Microcirculation, 2019 Jan;26(1):e12514.

Vascular Disease

Vascular Disease and Systemic Scleroderma. The vascular system is our circulatory system. It consists of all the vessels that carry blood and lymph through the body, to and from organs. Vessels include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Any condition that affects the vascular system, all of in part, is considered a vascular disease. ISN.

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