The Efficacy of Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon

ABSTRACT

Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is characterized by reversible digital vasospasm triggered by exposure to cold or emotional stress. It manifests with unique 'triphasic' (pallor, cyanosis, erythema) or 'biphasic' (white, blue) color change. Clinically, RP is classified as primary RP, which does not have an underlying associated cause with a relatively benign course, and secondary RP, which predates various cause such as systemic connective tissue disease (CTD). Therefore, RP must be differentiated for detection of emerging CTD such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic lupus erythematosus, and mixed conective tissue disease, ect. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a non-invasive morphological study used routinely with antinuclear antibodies for parallel of secondary RP. A recent study showed NFC to be the best predictor of transition from a primary RP to secondary RP. The well-established role of NFC for early diagnosis of SSc, and potential for monitoring disease progression and predictive clinical complication makes NFC an important tool in research and clinical practice. In this paper, I present a recent update with emphasis on its possible role as a reliable diagnostic tool and biomarker in secondary RP.