Role of Nail Fold Capillaroscopy as A Method of Early Detection of Atherosclerosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Abstract Background The development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease as a consequence Systemic Lupus Erythematosis is a common and dangerous complication in patients with SLE. However, since the prevalence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease is variable and increasing by time, universal screening would imply a large number of unnecessary carotid Doppler. Objective To study the early prediction of atherosclerosis and the cardiovascular risk in SLE patients by Nail fold capillaroscopy and the Intima media thickness of the Carotid artery. Patients and Methods All Patients were subjected to full history taking, full clinical examination, laboratory investigations, carotid Doppler and nail fold capillaroscopy. In this study, we prospectively collected data on 30 consecutive patients referred to Ain Shams University hospitals and The National Research Institute. Results However, nail fold changes was significantly higher in patients with IM thickness changes indicative of atherosclerosis with SLE: it was proved to be highly sensitive and adequately specific in predicting the atherosclerosis in those patients. Conclusion IM thickness and nail fold capillaroscopy could be used as a guiding noninvasive screening tool in patients with SLE to predict the atherosclerosis and CV risk. Nail fold changes is correlated to the atherosclerotic changes happening in SLE patients. These results may lead to a reduction in the number of SLE patients with undiagnosed atherosclerosis and CV risk. Nail fold capillarscopy may also help alleviate the financial and disinfection burdens of radiology units as well as the medical costs associated with atherosclerosis and CV risk. Nail fold capillaroscopy can be used as a screening tool before doing carotid Doppler.