Chinese Journal of Dermatology ›› 1985, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (2): 77-80.

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Observation on capillaroscopy picture of the nail folds in scleroderma and scleredema

Zhao Guozhong   

  • Received:1983-11-29 Revised:1985-01-07 Online:1985-06-15 Published:1985-06-15

Abstract: The abnormality of capillaroscopy picture of the nail folds in 135 patients with systemic scleroderma, localized sclerdderma, and scleredema is reported. The morphology and blood flow state of capillary loops are obviously different among the three groups of the disease.Dilated capillary loops especially the top of loops which looks like a stick is the character of systemic scleroderma. So capillaroscopic examination may be significant in, making a definite diagnosis and classification. Our results suggest that microvascular lesions play an important role is the pathogenetic coure of systemic scleroderma. It seems that the capillaroscopic changes do not depend on the size of indurated skin, existence of Raynaud's phenomenon and the degree of induratoa of the finger skin, but are related to the type of the disease. This paper describes the course of falling down of capillary loops and suggests that it is one of the causes of petechiae and decreasing number of capillary loops. This group of scleroderma shows that the visceral damage with systemic scleroderma is obvious, the relationship between visceral damage and capillaroscopic changes still needs to be studied.