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Background: Nailfold capillaroscopy (PC) is fundamental in the evaluation of RP, helping to differentiate between primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). However, the usefulness of this technique in patients with symptoms suggestive of a connective tissue disease (CTD) or positive antibodies, but without RP, has not been established. Objectives: To evaluate the utility of NVC for the diagnosis of CTD in patients without RP. Methods: Retrospective review of NVC performed in patients without RP and suspicion of a CTD, between 2010-2022. NVC from an age and sex-matched cohort control group with RP and a suspected CTD were selected, in a ratio of 1:1. Two NVC patterns were considered: SSc-pattern and non-scleroderma pattern (non-specific alterations or normal). Final diagnosis at follow-up were categorized as: SSc, other-CTD, no-CTD. Associations between final diagnosis, NVC patterns and characteristics of NVC defined by the EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases were analyzed. Results: From a total of 1471 NVC performed in patients with a suspicion of a CTD, we identified 184 in individual patients without RP. For control group, 184 patients with RP were selected. A total of 368 patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 2.6 years (interquartile range 6.3). The SSc pattern was associated with the diagnosis of SSc in both groups (pConclusion: NVC can be useful in the approach of patients without RP and with a suspected CTD, mainly in the diagnosis of SSc. The role of NVC for the assessment of other CTD in patients without RP should be studied in future prospective studies. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.
Caetano et al. (Sat,) studied this question.