ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2004 October;163(5):133-6

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Capillaroscopic aspects in patients with renovascular hypertension

Placanica G. ¹, Clemenzia G. ¹, Di Caro M. ¹, Angeletti C. ¹, Placanica P. ², Placanica A. ¹, Gentile R. ¹

¹ Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Università degli Studi di Roma “la Sapienza”, Roma; ² Policlinico Universitario di Messina, Messina

Aim. The goal of this study is to describe the peripheral capillaroscopic features in patients with renovascular hypertension, assuming a correlation between the alteration of renal and peripheral microcirculation.
Methods. Fifty patients affected by renovascular hypertension were enrolled and underwent a capillaroscopic examination of nailfold in vivo (group 1). This procedure is non invasive, easy to perform, reproducible and with a good patient’s compliance. As control groups we examined 21 healthy subjects (group 2) and 17 patients with essential hypertension (group 3).
Results. In all patients of group 1 we observed a significant capillary rarefaction (the reduction of the density was increased in elderly patients), presence of microscopic hemorrhage, capillary walls appeared less mobile, the flow inadequate and “sludges” phenomena were frequently observed. The involved segments were curved and often branched. On other hand, group 2 showed a capillaroscopic aspect within normal limits and patients of group 3 showed the same capillaroscopic aspects of group 1, without rarefaction phenomenon.
Conclusion. The conclusion is drawn that hypertension leads to capillaroscopic abnormal pattern; patients with renovascular hypertension may show some peculiar aspects and therefore this examination may be useful for an early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.