Periungual capillaroscopy is a simple and painless method that allows us to make a detailed study of the surface microcirculation of the fingers, through its visualization by optical microscope, in a wide range of rheumatological diseases. This microvascular damage can be an indirect sign of some rheumatic pathologies such as Raynaud’s phenomenon, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome or systemic lupus erythematosus.
It is preferably performed on the skin of the nail border of the fingers, and is carried out using an optical microscope of various magnifications that are usually in the range of 20 to 200 times.
As it is a bloodless technique, capillaroscopy has no contraindications, so we can repeat it with the desired frequency and thus be able to study the changes that occur in the patient.
Our Rheumatology Unit has a capillaroscope available to patients and professionals who request it.
