Nailfold videocapillaroscopy in the assessment of juvenile connective tissue diseases
Authors' conclusion
NVC is a valuable tool for differentiating pRP from early juvenile CTDs and may help risk stratification for organ involvement, particularly ILD.
Study context
- Population
- Children with pRP and juvenile connective tissue diseases (CTDs) (juvenile systemic sclerosis (JSSc), JDM, JSLE), regardless of RP status, followed at a Paediatric Rheumatology Unit
- Participants
- 50 children1,600 nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) images
- Exposure
- NVC findings in pRP vs juvenile CTDs
- Outcome
- NVC findings (non-specific or scleroderma pattern; six capillary abnormalities) and their associations with clinical/organ involvement
Methodological detailstwo independent observers, semiquantitative rating scale
- Two independent observers
- Semiquantitative rating scale
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Differences in capillaroscopic alterations observed only between pRP and JSSc
- JSSc vs pRP: P < 0.001
- JSSc vs JDM: P < 0.005
- JSSc vs pRP: P < 0.001
- JSSc vs pRP: P = 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | ILD | No ILD | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin fibrosis, scleroderma pattern vs not | proportion 21/25 vs. 0/9 | P < 0.001 | ||
| Gastrointestinal involvement, scleroderma pattern vs not | proportion 17/25 vs. 1/9 | P = 0.006 | ||
| Digital ulcers, scleroderma pattern vs notTrend towards significance | proportion 8/25 vs. 0/9 | P = 0.07 | ||
| Avascular score, ILD vs no ILDSignificantly higher in ILD | 0.69 ± 0.51 | 0.44 ± 0.38 | P = 0.048 | |
| ILD with severe reduction of capillary density (≤4 capillaries/mm) vs not | proportion with ILD 5/10 vs. 4/13 | P = 0.02 |
Original publication
Nailfold videocapillaroscopy in the assessment of juvenile connective tissue diseases. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 26 August 2025. doi:10.
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