In systemic sclerosis macrovascular damage of hands digital arteries correlates with microvascular damage

Edoardo Rosato
Antonietta Gigante
Biagio Barbano
Rosario Cianci
Ilenia Molinaro
Simonetta Pisarri
Felice Salsano

Open link

Publication date

January 2011

DOI

10.1016/j.mvr.2011.07.009

Publisher

Elsevier BV

ISSN

0026-2862

Citation count (estimate)

Abstract

Objective: To assess morphology and blood flow of the proper palmar digital arteries (PPDA) by Color Doppler Ultrasonography (CDUS) and its relationship with nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC), skin blood perfusion and digital arteries pulsatility of hands in SSc patients and healthy controls. Methods: CDUS, NVC, Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging (LDPI) and photoplethysmography (PPG) were performed in 36 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and 20 healthy controls. Results: CDUS was pathologic in 69% of patients with SSc and in none of healthy controls (p<0.0001). SSc patients with low vascular damage (early capillaroscopic pattern) have a normal morphology of PPDA, but the blood flow, evaluated by peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic ...