TY - JOUR
T1 - Nailfold capillary density is associated with the presence and severity of pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis
AU - Hofstee, H.M.A.
AU - Vonk noordegraaf, A.
AU - Voskuijl, A.E.
AU - Dijkmans, B.A.C.
AU - Postmus, P.E.
AU - Smulders, Y.M.
AU - Serne, E.H.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in capillary nailfold changes in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with and without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and whether these changes are associated with PAH severity and disease specificity. METHODS: Capillary density and loop dimensions were studied in 21 healthy controls, 20 patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and 40 patients with SSc. Of the 40 patients with SSc, 19 had no PAH (SSc-nonPAH) and 21 had PAH (SSc-PAH), of whom eight had PAH during exercise. RESULTS: Capillary density was lower in SSc-PAH compared with patients who had SSc-nonPAH (4.33/mm vs 6.56/mm respectively, p = 0.001), but loop dimensions were equal. In comparison with IPAH, patients with SSc-PAH had reduced capillary density (4.33/mm vs 7.86/mm, p
AB - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in capillary nailfold changes in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with and without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and whether these changes are associated with PAH severity and disease specificity. METHODS: Capillary density and loop dimensions were studied in 21 healthy controls, 20 patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and 40 patients with SSc. Of the 40 patients with SSc, 19 had no PAH (SSc-nonPAH) and 21 had PAH (SSc-PAH), of whom eight had PAH during exercise. RESULTS: Capillary density was lower in SSc-PAH compared with patients who had SSc-nonPAH (4.33/mm vs 6.56/mm respectively, p = 0.001), but loop dimensions were equal. In comparison with IPAH, patients with SSc-PAH had reduced capillary density (4.33/mm vs 7.86/mm, p
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.087353
DO - https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.087353
M3 - Article
C2 - 18375538
SN - 0003-4967
VL - 68
SP - 191
EP - 195
JO - Annals of the rheumatic diseases
JF - Annals of the rheumatic diseases
IS - 2
ER -