Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Hand bone densitometry associates with nailfold capillaroscopic severity of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis: a pilot study
Authors' conclusion
For the first time, hand local bone status was found significantly associated with hand/fingers NVC microvascular damage in SSc patients, emphasising the effects of capillary loss/local hypoxia on the observed bone loss.
Study context
- Population
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients (2013 ACR/EULAR criteria; mean age 61±14 years, 94% women, 47% dcSSc) and age-matched healthy subjects (HS)47% 13
- Participants
- 32 vs 27
- Exposure
- SSc patients vs age-matched healthy subjects; hand bone mineral density (BMD) vs nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) capillary status
- SScn = 32
- HSn = 27reference
- Outcome
- Association of hand BMD (dedicated hand software) with NVC capillary loss
Methodological detailspilot study, age-matched healthy subjects, multivariable regression
- Pilot study
- Age-matched healthy subjects
- Multivariable regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hand BMD vs capillary loss (multiple regression)
- Left-hand BMD significantly associated with capillary loss, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, osteoporosis history, grip strength, immunosuppressive therapy and bone-specific treatments
- p=0.02
- Right-hand BMD significantly associated with capillary loss (same adjustment)
- p=0.03
- Left-hand BMD correlation with capillaries per linear mm
- r=0.6893, p<0.001
- Right-hand BMD correlation with capillaries per linear mm
- r=0.45, p=0.03
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Left-hand BMD vs "late" NVC scleroderma pattern
- Significant negative correlation
- r=−0.5752, p=0.001
Left-hand BMD vs dcSSc and modified Rodnan skin score
- Negative correlation with presence of dcSSc
- r=−0.3836, p=0.036
- Negative correlation with modified Rodnan skin score
- r=−0.5811, p=0.002
Hand BMD, SSc vs HS
- SSc patients had significantly lower hand BMD than HS, adjusted for age, sex, BMI and history of osteoporosis
Original publication
Hand bone densitometry associates with nailfold capillaroscopic severity of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis: a pilot study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 29 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →