Abstract
Purpose: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) identifies the microvascular hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and may play a pivotal role in the associated vasculopathy. The aim of the present study was to compare NVC alterations with clinical subsets, internal organ involvement, and serum VEGF levels in a cohort of selected SSc cases. Methods: We studied 44 patients with SSc who were evaluated within 3 months from enrollment by NVC, skin score, severity index, pulmonary function tests, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), echocardiography, pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), gastroesophageal (GE) endoscopy or manometry or X-ray, and serum autoantibodies. Serum VEGF-A levels were determined by ELISA in 72 SSc patients and 31 healthy controls. Results: Giant capillaries were inversely correlated with age (p = 0.034, r = −0.34) and to the extent of reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = −0.5). Avascular areas were directly correlated with capillaroscopy skin ulcer risk index (CSURI) (p = 0.006, r = +0.4) and severity index (p = 0.004, r = +0.5). The mean capillary density was directly correlated to the ulcer number (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and to DLCO/alveolar volume (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and inversely correlated with severity index (p = 0.01, r = −0.4) and skin score (p = 0.02, r = −0.4). Serum VEGF levels were higher in the SSc population vs controls (p = 0.03) and inversely correlated with DLCO (p = 0.01, r =−0.4) and directly with ground-glass and reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = +0.4 for both). Conclusions: Our data suggest the importance of NVC not only for the diagnosis, but also for the global evaluation of SSc patients. Of note, serum VEGF levels may act as a biomarker of interstitial lung involvement.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 5 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Autoimmunity Highlights |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Autoimmunity
- Biomarkers
- Endothelium
- Personalized medicine
- Systemic sclerosis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Cite this
Nailfold videocapillaroscopy and serum VEGF levels in scleroderma are associated with internal organ involvement. / De Santis, Maria; Ceribelli, Angela; Cavaciocchi, Francesca; Crotti, Chiara; Massarotti, Marco; Belloli, Laura; Marasini, Bianca; Isailovic, Natasa; Generali, Elena; Selmi, Carlo.
In: Autoimmunity Highlights, Vol. 7, No. 1, 5, 01.12.2016, p. 1-9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nailfold videocapillaroscopy and serum VEGF levels in scleroderma are associated with internal organ involvement
AU - De Santis, Maria
AU - Ceribelli, Angela
AU - Cavaciocchi, Francesca
AU - Crotti, Chiara
AU - Massarotti, Marco
AU - Belloli, Laura
AU - Marasini, Bianca
AU - Isailovic, Natasa
AU - Generali, Elena
AU - Selmi, Carlo
PY - 2016/12/1
Y1 - 2016/12/1
N2 - Purpose: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) identifies the microvascular hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and may play a pivotal role in the associated vasculopathy. The aim of the present study was to compare NVC alterations with clinical subsets, internal organ involvement, and serum VEGF levels in a cohort of selected SSc cases. Methods: We studied 44 patients with SSc who were evaluated within 3 months from enrollment by NVC, skin score, severity index, pulmonary function tests, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), echocardiography, pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), gastroesophageal (GE) endoscopy or manometry or X-ray, and serum autoantibodies. Serum VEGF-A levels were determined by ELISA in 72 SSc patients and 31 healthy controls. Results: Giant capillaries were inversely correlated with age (p = 0.034, r = −0.34) and to the extent of reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = −0.5). Avascular areas were directly correlated with capillaroscopy skin ulcer risk index (CSURI) (p = 0.006, r = +0.4) and severity index (p = 0.004, r = +0.5). The mean capillary density was directly correlated to the ulcer number (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and to DLCO/alveolar volume (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and inversely correlated with severity index (p = 0.01, r = −0.4) and skin score (p = 0.02, r = −0.4). Serum VEGF levels were higher in the SSc population vs controls (p = 0.03) and inversely correlated with DLCO (p = 0.01, r =−0.4) and directly with ground-glass and reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = +0.4 for both). Conclusions: Our data suggest the importance of NVC not only for the diagnosis, but also for the global evaluation of SSc patients. Of note, serum VEGF levels may act as a biomarker of interstitial lung involvement.
AB - Purpose: Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) identifies the microvascular hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and may play a pivotal role in the associated vasculopathy. The aim of the present study was to compare NVC alterations with clinical subsets, internal organ involvement, and serum VEGF levels in a cohort of selected SSc cases. Methods: We studied 44 patients with SSc who were evaluated within 3 months from enrollment by NVC, skin score, severity index, pulmonary function tests, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), echocardiography, pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), gastroesophageal (GE) endoscopy or manometry or X-ray, and serum autoantibodies. Serum VEGF-A levels were determined by ELISA in 72 SSc patients and 31 healthy controls. Results: Giant capillaries were inversely correlated with age (p = 0.034, r = −0.34) and to the extent of reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = −0.5). Avascular areas were directly correlated with capillaroscopy skin ulcer risk index (CSURI) (p = 0.006, r = +0.4) and severity index (p = 0.004, r = +0.5). The mean capillary density was directly correlated to the ulcer number (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and to DLCO/alveolar volume (p = 0.02, r = +0.4) and inversely correlated with severity index (p = 0.01, r = −0.4) and skin score (p = 0.02, r = −0.4). Serum VEGF levels were higher in the SSc population vs controls (p = 0.03) and inversely correlated with DLCO (p = 0.01, r =−0.4) and directly with ground-glass and reticular pattern at HRCT (p = 0.04, r = +0.4 for both). Conclusions: Our data suggest the importance of NVC not only for the diagnosis, but also for the global evaluation of SSc patients. Of note, serum VEGF levels may act as a biomarker of interstitial lung involvement.
KW - Autoimmunity
KW - Biomarkers
KW - Endothelium
KW - Personalized medicine
KW - Systemic sclerosis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84958257592&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84958257592&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s13317-016-0077-y
DO - 10.1007/s13317-016-0077-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84958257592
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Autoimmunity Highlights
JF - Autoimmunity Highlights
SN - 2038-0305
IS - 1
M1 - 5
ER -