Predictive Role of Capillaroscopy for SSc Clinical Complications
Next to its role in discerning a primary from a secondary RP due to SSc, focus is on a possible role in informing the clinical researcher of possible future clinical complications. Cross-sectional associations have been made between qualitative and quantitative capillaroscopic parameters and clinical complications of the disease.
In this way, a principal role of loss of capillaries has been attested in associations with pulmonary arterial hypertension, interstitial lung disease, peripheral vascular disease and severity of peripheral vascular disease, heart and lung involvement assessed by the disease severity scale of Medsger.
Prospective predictive associations, in which baseline capillaroscopy (either qualitatively or quantitatively assessed) is associated with future clinical complications, are scarce, but there is evidence of a putative role of capillaroscopy as biomarker in SSc (Table 1).