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      Capillaroscopy in Psoriatic and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Useful Tool for Differential Diagnosis

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          Abstract

          Impairment of capillaries permeability and changes of microcirculation are associated with inflammatory arthritis. In order to demonstrate microvascular differences between psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) we analyzed capillaroscopic abnormalities such as megacapillaries, haemorrhages, ramifications, and avascular areas in patients affected by these two rheumatic disorders. Moreover to identify specific capillaroscopy patterns we analyzed the following parameters: venous limb diameter, arterial limb diameter, capillary loop diameter, amplitude of the capillary loop, linear density of capillaries (on 2 mm), and number of twisted capillaries (on 4 mm). Through a comparative morphometric analysis of capillaroscopy, our study demonstrated the presence of specific microvascular differences between PsA and RA providing an additional diagnostic tool for the differential diagnosis. We also suggest that capillaries structural abnormalities might reflect endothelial injury due to systemic inflammation during chronic arthritis.

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          The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis.

          D McShane, D. Bloch, Emma Healey … (1988)
          The revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were formulated from a computerized analysis of 262 contemporary, consecutively studied patients with RA and 262 control subjects with rheumatic diseases other than RA (non-RA). The new criteria are as follows: 1) morning stiffness in and around joints lasting at least 1 hour before maximal improvement; 2) soft tissue swelling (arthritis) of 3 or more joint areas observed by a physician; 3) swelling (arthritis) of the proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, or wrist joints; 4) symmetric swelling (arthritis); 5) rheumatoid nodules; 6) the presence of rheumatoid factor; and 7) radiographic erosions and/or periarticular osteopenia in hand and/or wrist joints. Criteria 1 through 4 must have been present for at least 6 weeks. Rheumatoid arthritis is defined by the presence of 4 or more criteria, and no further qualifications (classic, definite, or probable) or list of exclusions are required. In addition, a "classification tree" schema is presented which performs equally as well as the traditional (4 of 7) format. The new criteria demonstrated 91-94% sensitivity and 89% specificity for RA when compared with non-RA rheumatic disease control subjects.
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            A prospective, clinical and radiological study of early psoriatic arthritis: an early synovitis clinic experience.

            Timothy Kane, B Bresnihan, O Fitzgerald … (2003)
            To determine the clinical presentation and clinical and radiological outcome of early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at 1 and 2 yr. Patients with PsA were assessed at the St. Vincent's University Hospital Early Synovitis Clinic. Standardized clinical and laboratory assessment was performed at presentation and 1- and 2-yr follow-up. Radiographs of the hands and feet were evaluated in chronological order by two trained observers using the Sharp method modified to include the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. A total of 129 (12.7%) of 1018 patients were diagnosed with PsA [mean age at onset of arthritis was 40.4 yr (range 11-76); mean duration of disease was 9.9 months (range 0.3-48); 52 oligoarticular, 77 polyarticular]. Means and standard deviations of indices of disease activity at presentation were: 10-cm visual analogue scale = 4.8 +/- 2.7, HAQ score = 0.71 +/- 0.64, ACR functional class III/IV = 41 (35%), Ritchie Articular Index = 5.6 +/- 6, swollen joint count = 6.9 +/- 8, erythrocyte sedimentation rate = 24 +/- 26.4 mm/h, C-reactive protein = 27.6 +/- 58.5 mg/l. At presentation, 49 (38%) patients had peripheral enthesopathy, 13 patients (10%) had inflammatory spine pain and 50 (39%) patients had DIP involvement. A total of 119 had psoriasis at the time of presentation [plaque psoriasis in 112 (94%), mean age of psoriasis onset was 29.8 +/- 16.2 yr, nail dystrophy present in 78 patients (67%)]. At 1 yr of follow-up, 119 (92%) patients were reassessed and 70 (59%) were taking a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). At 2 yr, 97 (75%) patients were reassessed and 54 (56%) were taking a DMARD. Despite considerable improvement in inflammation and function scores, only 31 (26%) patients were in remission at 1 yr with 20 (21%) in remission at 2 yr. There was a low rate of DMARD-free remission [14 (12%) at 1 yr and 11 (11%) at 2 yr]. Radiographs of hands and feet were obtained for 117 (91%) patients at presentation and 86 (67%) patients at a median follow-up of 24 months (range 11-56); 47% of patients had joint erosions in hands or feet at follow-up with a mean Sharp erosion score of 3 (0) +/- 5.2 (range 0-25) and a mean Sharp narrowing score of 3.2 (0) +/- 7.5 (range 0-48). This study confirms that PsA is a chronic, progressive disease in the majority of patients. Despite clinical improvement with current DMARD treatment, PsA results in radiological damage in up to 47% of patients at a median interval of 2 yr.
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              Psoriasis--epidemiology and clinical spectrum.

              E Christophers (2001)
              Despite psoriasis being a common skin disease, there are still a number of unanswered questions. One of these is the prevalence of the disease, as there is a lack of specific data, with the majority of studies reporting estimates only. Population based studies are rare and longitudinal observations on changing prevalence rates are lacking. This contrasts with other T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases where the number of those affected is rising. Epidemiological studies revealed that a distinct group of diseases is quite frequently associated with psoriasis, e.g. arthritis, colitis, diabetes and hypertension. In contrast, atopic dermatitis and allergies are less frequently seen compared to normal rates of occurrence. As the psoriatic immune response pattern relates to activated Th-1 cells, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis appear to be mutually exclusive due to the Th-1/Th-2 dichotomy.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Journal ID (nlm-ta): Arthritis
                Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Arthritis
                Journal ID (publisher-id): ARTH
                Title: Arthritis
                Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
                ISSN (Print): 2090-1984
                ISSN (Electronic): 2090-1992
                Publication date (Print): 2013
                Publication date (Electronic): 12 December 2013
                Volume: 2013
                Electronic Location Identifier: 957480
                Affiliations
                1Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
                2Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
                3San Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy
                Author notes
                *Dario Graceffa: dag2003@ 123456libero.it

                Academic Editor: Burkhard Leeb

                Author information
                http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2811-781X
                Article
                DOI: 10.1155/2013/957480
                PMC ID: 3874353
                SO-VID: 0a2f899b-fc7e-4882-ac51-8e86f77c72fd
                Copyright © Copyright © 2013 Dario Graceffa et al.
                License:

                This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                Date received : 27 June 2013
                Date accepted : 17 November 2013
                Categories
                Subject: Research Article

                ScienceOpen disciplines: Rheumatology
                Data availability:
                ScienceOpen disciplines: Rheumatology

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