Pos0106 Microvascular Status in Covid-19 Survivors: A Nailfold Video Capillaroscopy Analysis

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection predominantly affects the respiratory system, however, its notable capacity to induce endothelial cell dysfunction may impact a wide range of organs leading to a broad spectrum of systemic symptoms and complications, as observed in long COVID [1,2]. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a non-invasive tool able to evaluate microvascular morphology. [3] Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate microcirculation status in COVID-19 survivors using NVC analysis [4]. Methods: Sixty-eight COVID-19 survivors (33 women and 35 men; mean age 58±13 years) after hospitalization (mean days from disease onset 135±82 and mean days from recovery 114±85) underwent NVC examination. The assessment focused on capillaroscopic parameters, such as capillary numerosity, dilated capillaries, giant capillaries, microhemorrhages and capillary ramifications (abnormal shaped/neoangiogenesis). A control group of sixty-one age and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS) (44 women and 17 men; mean age 59±15 years) was enrolled in the study. All patients provided written consent before enrolling into study. Results: Data showed a statistically significant lower number of nailfold capillaries (linear millimeter) in COVID-19 survivors when compared to HS (8±0.96 vs 31±0.67; p< 0.01). A trend with increased presence of capillary ramifications (neoangiogenesis) was observed in COVID-19 group, however the result did not reach the statistical significance (26% vs 18%; p= 0.36). A statistically significant lower number of isolated hemosiderin deposits (arised from microhaemorrages) was also present in COVID-19 survivors versus HS (28% vs 59%; p<0.05). No correlations with disease severity were observed. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection was shown to be associated with endothelial damage at NCV analysis in our observational monocentric study. The main alterations observed in our cohort of patients were the capillary loss and the capillary ramifications as sign of neoangiogenesis. This latter microvascular alteration was recently observed significantly more evident in acute COVID patients [5]. Nevertheless, to confirm the presence of loss of capillaries also in large numbers of patients with long COVID further analyses are ongoing. REFERENCES: [1] Alunno A et al. RMD Open 2020; 6,e001295. 2. Bonaventura, A. et.al.. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2021;21:319–329. 3. Cutolo M et al. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2010;6:578–87. 4. Mondini L et al. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023;29;13:1905. 5. Cutolo, M. et al. Reumatismo. 2023;74(4):139-143. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.