Capillaroscopic insights: exploring the connection between microvascular changes and pulmonary manifestations in systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex connective tissue disease characterized by microangiopathy, immune dysregulation, and fibrosis. Early detection of microvascular abnormalities using nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is crucial in assessing disease progression and associated disease's involvement such as interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the relationships correlation between NVC patterns, clinical manifestations, and systemic complications in SSc.

METHODS

We analyzed the data of 63 patients, predominantly female (95%), with a mean age of 49 years and an average disease duration of 42 months. Patients were categorized into early, active, and late patterns based on NVC findings. Clinical features, including digital ulcers (DU), ILD, and PAH, were assessed. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between capillary loss, neoangiogenesis, ILD, and PAH.

RESULTS

The early pattern group (mean mRSS 2.36) exhibited minimal microvascular damage and systemic involvement, with no DUs. In the active pattern group (mean mRSS 10.40), 34.38% had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), with 15.63% presenting DUs, 65.63% ILD, and 37.5% PAH. The late pattern group (mean mRSS 18.00) showed the most severe disease, with 80% having DUs, 70% dcSSc, 90% ILD, and 70% PAH. Pearson correlation analyses revealed strong correlations between capillary loss and ILD (r = 0.7255) and PAH (r = 0.6369). A moderate correlation was found between neoangiogenesis and PAH (r = 0.5592).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrates that progressive microvascular damage in SSc, as visualized by NVC, correlates strongly with the severity of systemic complications. Early detection of capillary loss and neoangiogenesis using NVC is critical for timely interventions, which could improve patient outcomes by mitigating the progression of ILD and PAH.