Childhood dermatomyositis: serial microvascular studies

Abstract

Childhood dermatomyositis is an inflammatory condition affecting the skin and muscles that is often associated with a small vessel vasculopathy. According to previous retrospective studies, it is suggested that the severity of the vasculopathy is related to the course of the disease. Sequential in vivo nailfold microscopy was used to assess the frequency and the degree of vasculopathy in nine children with dermatomyositis. The degree of morphologic changes in the nailfold capillary bed was shown to correlate with the clinical course. The technique of nailfold capillaroscopy may prove to be a clinically useful, noninvasive means of early prognosis.