文摘
Nailfold capillaroscopy has been extensively applied in a broad spectrum of pathologic conditions, but very few data have been published in healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to describe the nailfold capillary findings on a large series of healthy subjects using the video-capillaroscopy technique. Nailfold capillaries were studied based on their morphology, dimensions and density. Then, to evaluate jointly the association between different capillary findings in groups of subjects which were homogeneous for their characteristics, cluster analysis was performed. The results (median) of capillary measurements were as follows: loop length 207 渭m, external diameter 39 渭m, internal diameter 17 渭m, apical diameter 17 渭m, and intercapillary distance 143 渭m. Based on the cluster analysis three major 鈥渘ormal鈥?morphologic capillaroscopic patterns were depicted: 1) the 鈥渘ormal鈥?pattern mainly with 2 to 5 U-shaped loops/mm and 鈮?#xA0;2 tortuous loops/mm; 2) the 鈥減erfect normal鈥?pattern with 鈮?#xA0;5 U-shaped loops/mm and 3) the 鈥渦nusual normal鈥?with at least 1 meandering or bushy loop, or at least 1 microhemorrhage, or with > 4 crossed loops/mm. Regarding the loop measurements, the majority of subjects had a median of 7 capillaries/mm with a median length of 198 渭m.
