AB0618 Nailfold Capillaroscopy Changes during Pregnancy in Connective Tissue Diseases

BackgroundNailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) changes early appear in connective tissue diseases (CTDs): besides the “scleroderma pattern” of systemic sclerosis (SSc), abnormalities have been reported in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) [1]. Pregnancy can modify the course of of CTDs [2]. NVC changes during pregnancy have been described in healthy women [3], but no data are available regarding CTD subjects during pregnancy.ObjectivesOur study aimed to investigate if there is an impact of pregnancy on NVC changes, and of which kind, among CTDs patients.MethodsAfter Local Ethic Committee approval and informed consent signature, we prospectively enrolled 29 consecutive pregnant women, with an established diagnosis of CTD (either SSc, MCTD or UCTD) and RP from at least 12 months. Pregnant women underwent a NVC examination at conception (defined as T0) and, after that, to a second one (T1), between the beginning and the end of the third trimester of gestation. The pregnant subjects are referred as “cases”. In parallel, 29 non-pregnant women with the same diagnosis, comparable underlying disease duration and similar age of cases were matched in retrospect (“controls”). NVC was performed in all 29 couples of patients by the same operator, at baseline (T0) and follow-up (T1) (Videocap, DS MediGroup, Milan, Italy). The following capillaroscopic parameters were considered: number of capillaries per area; presence of ectasic capillary and megacapillaries; haemorrhages (hemosiderin deposits); loss of capillaries, disorganization of the microvascular array and capillary ramifications (combined, their constitute the “microangiopathy evolution score”-MES); tortuosity; edema. A semiquantitative rating scale was adopted to score each capillary abnormality (0=no changes; 1=less than 33% of capillary alterations/reduction; 2=33–66% of capillary alterations/reduction; 3=more than 66% of capillary alterations/ reduction) [4]. Statistical analysis was conducted by non-parametric tests.ResultsAmong 29 cases (and 29 matched controls), we collected 14 UCTD, 10 MCTD and 5 SSc. Regarding capillaroscopic abnormalities, the two groups were homogeneous at T0, whereas statistically significant differences (excepted for ectasias and tortuosity scores) were observed at T1. Capillary number increased only among cases (pregnant women; p