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Published in: Clinical Rheumatology 2/2018

01-02-2018 | Original Article

Capillary loss on nailfold capillary microscopy is associated with mortality in systemic sclerosis

Authors: Thais Rohde Pavan, Markus Bredemeier, Vanessa Hax, Karina Gatz Capobianco, Rafael da Silva Mendonça Chakr, Ricardo Machado Xavier

Published in: Clinical Rheumatology | Issue 2/2018

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to test the association of the severity of nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) abnormalities with mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). One hundred and seventy SSc patients underwent an extensive evaluation (including high-resolution computed tomography, pulmonary function tests, and Doppler echocardiography) at baseline following a standard protocol. Capillary loss on NFC was evaluated using the avascular score (AS, ranging from 0 to 3), and the mean number of ectasias, megacapillaries, and hemorrhages per finger was also recorded. After a mean period of 10.1 ± 4.9 years, the life status of the patients was ascertained. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used for statistical analysis. Overall, 73 patients died. By univariate Cox analysis, the AS was significantly associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.64, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.19, p = 0.001). In our study, this association was stronger than that of race, gender, anticentromere antibodies, anti-topoisomerase I antibodies, and form of disease and had similar strength to that of skin score in univariate analyses. However, after controlling for a combination of variables (age, skin score, gender, race, signs of peripheral ischemia, and extent of interstitial lung disease, all independently associated with mortality), the association of AS with mortality was blunted (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.65, p = 0.445). Other NFC variables were not related to mortality. AS was associated with higher risk of death and, despite not having an independent association with mortality after controlling for a set of demographic and clinical variables, may be a useful tool in prognostic evaluation of SSc.
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Metadata
Title
Capillary loss on nailfold capillary microscopy is associated with mortality in systemic sclerosis
Authors
Thais Rohde Pavan
Markus Bredemeier
Vanessa Hax
Karina Gatz Capobianco
Rafael da Silva Mendonça Chakr
Ricardo Machado Xavier
Publication date
01-02-2018
Publisher
Springer London
Published in
Clinical Rheumatology / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 0770-3198
Electronic ISSN: 1434-9949
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-017-3869-1

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