Clinical significance and features of nail fold microcirculation in systemic sclerosis patients

Objective: To study the clinical significance and features of nail fold microcirculation in patients with systemic sclerosis. Methods: Patients with Ranaud′s phenomenon were observed and their nail fold microcirculation was examined in our hospital from 2001 to 2007.Their abnormal degree of nail fold microcirculation and clinical symptoms were compared. Results: Nail fold microcirculation in SSc patients was more abnormal than that in other connective tissue disease patients,and IgG,Scl-70 and nail fold microcirculation were related to diagnosis SSc through logistic analysis. Conclusion: Different calculus of nail fold microcirculation could distinguish between SSc and other connective tissue diseases,and therefore it could serve as an instrument for the diagnosis of early SSc.