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. 2023 Jun 15;13(12):2079.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13122079.

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthropathy on ANTI-TNF-ALPHA Therapy

Daniela Anghel  1   2 , Carmen Adella Sîrbu  3   4 , Oana-Georgiana Petrache  4 , Daniela Opriș-Belinski  5   6 , Maria Magdalena Negru  5   7 , Violeta-Claudia Bojincă  5   7 , Cristina Florentina Pleșa  3 , Florentina Ioniță Radu  8   9
Affiliations

Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthropathy on ANTI-TNF-ALPHA Therapy

Daniela Anghel et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

Videocapillaroscopy is a simple, non-invasive investigation that allows the "in vivo" study of the nailfold capillaries. This method is inexpensive, easily accepted by patients and the results can be easily interpreted. It is mainly used in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and systemic sclerosis, but this examination can also be performed on patients who are suspected of having microcirculation alterations, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. It may aid in the diagnosis, evaluation and prognosis of other rheumatic diseases, besides systemic sclerosis. The aim of this study is to identify the nailfold videocapillaroscopic abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients and analyze the correlation between their evolution and 12 months of anti-TNF-α therapy. The abnormal capillaroscopic findings comprised widened, dilated or giant capillaries and the distortion of the normal nailfold architecture, avascular areas, hemorrhages and neoangiogenesis. Overall, capillary density, dilated capillaries, giant capillaries, elongated capillaries and angiogenesis significantly improved after 12 months. Moreover, no avascular areas were found after 12 months of anti-TNF treatment.

Keywords: angiogenesis; anti-TNF-alpha therapy; nailfold capillaroscopy; psoriatic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
(a) Dilated capillaries in PsA patient; (b) Megacapillary in a PsA patient; (c) Elongated capillaries in a PsA patient; (d) Avascular area in a PsA patient; (e) Tortuous capillaries in a RA patient; (f) Crossed capillaries in a RA patient; (g) Hemorrhages in a RA patient; (h) Angiogenesis in a PsA patient.
Figure 1
Figure 1
The efficacity of TNF-alfa inhibitors on capillary density in RA patients.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The efficacity of TNF-alfa inhibitors on neoangiogenesis in RA patients.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The efficacity of TNF-alfa inhibitors on neoangiogenesis in PsA patients.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The efficacity of TNF-alfa inhibitors on capillary density in PsA patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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