Amaral MC, Paula FS, Caetano J, Ames PR, Alves JD. Re-evaluation of nailfold capillaroscopy in discriminating primary from secondary Raynaud's phenomenon and in predicting systemic sclerosis: a randomised observational prospective cohort study.
Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024;
20:665-672. [PMID:
38465507 DOI:
10.1080/1744666x.2024.2313642]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Primary Raynaud's phenomenon (pRP) is difficult to distinguish from secondary (sRP). Although nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) may detect early alterations, no universal criteria yet discriminate between pRP from sRP.
OBJECTIVES
To create and validate two NFC scores that could distinguish pRP from sRP and that could predict systemic sclerosis (SSc), respectively.
METHODS
We performed NFC on two separate cohorts with isolated RP, and recorded number of capillaries per field, enlarged/giant capillaries, crossed/bizarre patterns, microhemorrhages, neoangiogenesis, rarefaction, edema, blood flow velocity, stasis. By multivariate regression analysis, we evaluated the adjusted prognostic role of these features in a derivation cohort of 656 patients. Results were used to construct algorithm-based prognostic scores (A and B). These scores were then tested on a confirmation cohort of 219 patients.
RESULTS
Score A was unable to discriminate sRP from pRP (low negative predictive values with high positive predictive values for any cut-point); score B was unable to discriminate progression to SSc or a SSc-spectrum disorder (low positive predictive values with high negative predictive values for lower cut-points).
CONCLUSION
NFC patterns, believed as specific, showed low discriminatory power and on their own are unable to reliably discriminate sRP from pRP or predict evolution to SSc.
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