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Progressive capillary loss over a decade in patients with systemic sclerosis, in particular in patients with early digital ischaemic manifestations.

Scheja, Agneta LU ; Wildt, Marie LU ; Wuttge, Dirk LU and Hesselstrand, Roger LU (2011) In Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology 40. p.457-461
Abstract
Objective: Characteristic capillary abnormalities occur early in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to study the longitudinal development of capillary density in SSc patients. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients with SSc fulfilling a follow-up of at least 8 years were retrospectively analysed for capillary loss over the observation period. Eleven had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) and 37 limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc). The median disease duration at first assessment was 2.5 years. Capillary density was determined by direct counting of capillaries in the distal row on eight fingers in a stereo-zoom microscope at 20× magnification. Results: Capillary density decreased over the observation period in dcSSc (from median 5.1 to 4.4... (More)
Objective: Characteristic capillary abnormalities occur early in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to study the longitudinal development of capillary density in SSc patients. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients with SSc fulfilling a follow-up of at least 8 years were retrospectively analysed for capillary loss over the observation period. Eleven had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) and 37 limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc). The median disease duration at first assessment was 2.5 years. Capillary density was determined by direct counting of capillaries in the distal row on eight fingers in a stereo-zoom microscope at 20× magnification. Results: Capillary density decreased over the observation period in dcSSc (from median 5.1 to 4.4 loops/mm, p < 0.05) and in lcSSc (from 5.1 to 4.2 loops/mm, p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two forms at start or at follow-up. Digital ischaemic manifestations had already been found at the first assessment in 19 patients. They did not differ in capillary density from those without ischaemic manifestations at the first assessment (5.0 and 5.3 loops/mm), but did differ at follow-up (3.6 and 4.7 loops/mm, p < 0.001). Capillary loss was more pronounced in patients who already had digital ischaemic manifestations at the first assessment compared to those without (p < 0.02). Conclusion: In SSc, early digital ischaemic manifestations may precede a subsequent progressive capillary loss. The association between capillary loss and serious internal vascular complications remains to be studied. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
volume
40
pages
457 - 461
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000297852500009
  • pmid:21936615
  • scopus:83455196059
  • pmid:21936615
ISSN
1502-7732
DOI
10.3109/03009742.2011.599070
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ea964fd1-f75f-4abf-a860-290cbcff16d5 (old id 2168691)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21936615?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:44:37
date last changed
2022-01-29 03:53:46
@article{ea964fd1-f75f-4abf-a860-290cbcff16d5,
  abstract     = {{Objective: Characteristic capillary abnormalities occur early in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our aim was to study the longitudinal development of capillary density in SSc patients. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients with SSc fulfilling a follow-up of at least 8 years were retrospectively analysed for capillary loss over the observation period. Eleven had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) and 37 limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc). The median disease duration at first assessment was 2.5 years. Capillary density was determined by direct counting of capillaries in the distal row on eight fingers in a stereo-zoom microscope at 20× magnification. Results: Capillary density decreased over the observation period in dcSSc (from median 5.1 to 4.4 loops/mm, p &lt; 0.05) and in lcSSc (from 5.1 to 4.2 loops/mm, p &lt; 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two forms at start or at follow-up. Digital ischaemic manifestations had already been found at the first assessment in 19 patients. They did not differ in capillary density from those without ischaemic manifestations at the first assessment (5.0 and 5.3 loops/mm), but did differ at follow-up (3.6 and 4.7 loops/mm, p &lt; 0.001). Capillary loss was more pronounced in patients who already had digital ischaemic manifestations at the first assessment compared to those without (p &lt; 0.02). Conclusion: In SSc, early digital ischaemic manifestations may precede a subsequent progressive capillary loss. The association between capillary loss and serious internal vascular complications remains to be studied.}},
  author       = {{Scheja, Agneta and Wildt, Marie and Wuttge, Dirk and Hesselstrand, Roger}},
  issn         = {{1502-7732}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{457--461}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology}},
  title        = {{Progressive capillary loss over a decade in patients with systemic sclerosis, in particular in patients with early digital ischaemic manifestations.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/03009742.2011.599070}},
  doi          = {{10.3109/03009742.2011.599070}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}