Background:Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a useful, noninvasive, widely available diagnostic tool in rheumatology practice. We commonly use it to describe patterns of abnormalities in systemic sclerosis however we have enough data which proves NFC usefulness for monitoring idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) considering it as diagnostic tool, monitoring of disease activity and treatment efficiency. Despite evident clinical relevance of NFC in IIM patients we still do not have clear capillaroscopic images for IIM definition.Objectives:That’s why, the goal of our research was aimed to analyze capillaroscopic peculiarities among IIM patients and find possible associations with clinical and activity data.Methods:69 patients with IIM were examined and 47 IIM patients with capillaroscopic alterations were included in the study, 26 patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and 21 patients with polymyositis (PM) according to the Targoff Criteria (1997). NFC we performed usingDino-Lite CapillaryScope with 200 magnification. We assessed nailfold capillary density (NCD), presence of microhemorrhages, giant, dilated and ramified capillaries, scleroderma patterns (defined as an early, active or late pattern) and neovascular pattern (defined as an active and late scleroderma patterns). To asses disease activity we use Manual Muscle Testing 8 (MMT8), Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Myositis Disease Activity Assessment Tool (MDAAT), Cutaneous Dermatomyositis Disease Area and Severity Index (CDASI), physician’s VAS, patient’s VAS, serum muscle enzymes levels. We divided patients into 4 groups: 1stgroup – 17 DM patients with active disease (8 of them with newly onset disease), 2ndgroup included 9 DM patients with inactive disease, 3rdgroup – 11 PM patients with active disease (5 of them with newly onset disease) and 4thgroup included 10 PM patients with inactive disease.Results:The most common finding was low NCD, 70% of all patients had NCD lower than 6 per 1 mm. NCD for the 1stgroup was 4,4±1,12, 2ndgroup – 6,0±1,0, 3rdgroup – 5,8±1,1, 4thgroup – 9,2±2,1 (F=26,27, p<0,001). Hemorrhages were significantly more common among DM patients and active disease and were observed among 47,1% (p=0,036,χ2=8,574) with no significant difference with regard to the disease onset. Analyzing scleroderma patterns, among 1stgroup of patients – 17,6% had early, 47,1% – active, 35,3% – late pattern, in the 2ndgroup – 66,7% had early pattern, in the 3rdgroup – 27,3% patients with early and 18,2% with active pattern and in the 4thgroup – 50% of patients presented with early pattern (p=0,001,χ2=31,87). Neovascular pattern was found significantly more often among patients with active DM (p=0,001) with no regard to the disease onset. No statistically significant difference in giant and ramified capillaries distribution was found.Conclusion:According to our results, we can admit that the most common capillaroscopic finding was decreased NCD, which were significantly lower among patients with active DM, the same as microhemorrhages and neovascular scleroderma pattern. This data suggests that NCD, microhemorrhages and neovascular scleroderma pattern could be consider as biomarkers of DM activity but not PM, therefore more detailed research with larger numbers of patients are required.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
AB0571 IS RITUXIMAB AN ADEQUATE GLUCOCORTICOID SPARING AGENT IN IDIOPATHIC INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHIES?
