Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Prognostic value of baseline nailfold videocapillaroscopy in predicting pulmonary decline and disease progression in SSc
Authors' conclusion
Baseline NVC abnormalities-particularly capillary disorganization and late pattern morphology-are independent predictors of ILD progression and worsening pulmonary function in SSc over two years in SSc. Elevated KL-6 levels further correlate with NVC abnormalities and pulmonary decline.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SSc (2013 ACR/EULAR criteria), stratified by presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD)27% male
- Participants
- 74 patients
- Exposure
- Baseline nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) abnormalities as predictors of pulmonary decline and disease progression
- Outcome
- Pulmonary function decline (%FVC, %DLCO), ILD progression (HRCT) and longitudinal changes in serum biomarkers, inflammatory markers and disease activity indices
- Follow-up
- 2 years
Methodological detailslongitudinal, 2-year follow-up, multivariate regression modelling
- Longitudinal
- 2-year follow-up
- Multivariate regression modelling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Predictors of change over two years (multivariate regression)
- Capillary disorganization at baseline → decline in %FVC, β (P = 0.03)
- −0.75
- Capillary disorganization at baseline → decline in %DLCO, β (P = 0.03)
- −0.24
- Capillary disorganization at baseline → worsening modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), β (P = 0.03)
- 0.23
- Late NVC pattern → worsened mRSS, β (P = 0.004)
- 0.47
- Late NVC pattern → larger increase in KL-6, β (P = 0.04)
- 0.18
- Late NVC pattern → decline in %DLCO, β (P = 0.04)
- −0.38
- Higher baseline SCTC-DI → progressive semi-quantitative fibrosis on high-resolution CT (HRCT), β (P = 0.003)
- 0.32
- Higher baseline SCTC-DI → elevated CRP, β (P = 0.003)
- 0.38
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ILD prevalence and ≥20% lung involvement on HRCT · baseline and two years
- ILD at baseline
- 38%
- ILD after two years
- 51%
- ≥20% lung involvement on HRCT at baseline
- 32%
- ≥20% lung involvement on HRCT at two years
- 43%
Original publication
Prognostic value of baseline nailfold videocapillaroscopy in predicting pulmonary decline and disease progression in SSc. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 2 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →