Original Articles
Vol. 74 No. 3 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2022.1508

Nailfold capillaroscopy in the rheumatological current clinical practice in Italy: results of a national survey

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Received: 3 July 2022
Accepted: 27 September 2022
Published: 29 December 2022
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Capillaroscopy, microcirculation, Raynaud’s phenomenon, systemic sclerosis

Authors

F. Ingegnoli
francesca.ingegnoli@unimi.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6727-1273
Clinical Rheumatology Unit, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy.
M. Cornalba
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9393-4088
Clinical Rheumatology Unit, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Department of Clinical and Community Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy.
R. De Angelis
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5169-3511
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Molecolari, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Jesi (AN), Italy.
S. Guiducci
Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Division of Rheumatology, University of Firenze, Italy.
D. Giuggioli
Rheumatology Unit, Hospital of Modena, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
C. Pizzorni
Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCSS Polyclinic San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
V. Riccieri
Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, La Sapienza University, Roma, Italy.
M. Sebastiani
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1294-6421
Rheumatology Unit, Hospital of Modena, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
A. Sulli
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3674-4880
Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCSS Polyclinic San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
M. Cutolo
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5396-0932
Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCSS Polyclinic San Martino, Genoa, Italy.

This cross-sectional online study was designed by the study group on Capillaroscopy and Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases (CAP) of the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) to provide an overview of the management of nailfold capillaroscopy in Italian rheumatology centers. Therefore, SIR distributed the survey to its members in July 2021, and each center’s physician with the most expertise in capillaroscopy completed the questionnaire. The survey was completed by 102 centers, with at least one representative from each Italian region. Ninety-three centers perform capillaroscopy, and 52 (56) conduct more than 200 investigations annually. Seventy-eight (84%) of respondents have more than five years of experience with the technique, and 75 centers (80.6%) have received certification from specific national or international training courses. In 85 centers, a videocapillaroscope with 200x magnification is employed (91.4%). The average waiting period for the examination is 2.4 months, and less than 3 months in 64 of the locations (68.8%). The study demonstrates that capillaroscopy is an integral part of both the diagnostic phase of Raynaud’s phenomenon and the monitoring of autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs). However, the reporting methods and timing of patient followup are heterogeneous.

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1.
Nailfold capillaroscopy in the rheumatological current clinical practice in Italy: results of a national survey. Reumatismo [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 29 [cited 2026 Apr. 23];74(3). Available from: https://www.reumatismo.org/reuma/article/view/1508
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