IS THE CAPILLARY MICROSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF THE VISIBLE CAPILLARY LENGTH A DIAGNOSTIC CRITERION IN THROMBOANGIITIS-OBLITERANS

Background: The diagnosis of thromboangiitis obliterans may be difficu lt to establish in the everyday clinical setting. Patients and methods : In 16 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans vital capillary micro scopy was carried out on the nailfold on all ten digits. The longest v isible capillary length was noted. As controls we employed 86 healthy subjects. Results: The measurement of the respective longest visible c apillary on the nailfold revealed a visible capillary length of more t hen 0.6 mm in 38% of all patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (n = 16), such capillary lengths were not to be found among healthy subjec ts (n = 86). Conclusions: Vital capillary microscopic determination of the visibile capillary length is a simple-to-perform, non-invasive ex amination, which can help to establish the diagnosis.