Nailfold Capillaroscopy Using Dermatoscope As a Tool to Assess Correlation of Vasculopathy in Nailfolds with Retinopathy in Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an important long-term complication in diabetes patients and if not treated adequately, can lead to permanent visual disturbances. Nail fold capillaroscopy (NFC) can be used as a screening and reliable tool in evaluating the progression of the disease by monitoring the microvascular changes associated with it.
Aims: We aimed to correlate the capillaroscopic parameters with the severity of DR in diabetes mellitus patients.
Material and Methods: Cross sectional observational study was conducted on 100 diabetics (50 with diabetic retinopathy and 50 without retinopathy) in outpatient department of dermatology for a period of 1 year. All the participants were subjected to NFC and ophthalmological assessment.
Results: Four NC parameters showed significant positive correlation with severity of DR i.e. age (years), duration of diabetes (years), tortuous capillary and avascular area with correlation coefficient of 0.28, 0.864, 0.364, 0.274 respectively. Significant negative correlation was seen with mean capillary density (capillaries/mm) with correlation coefficient of -0.38. Non-significant mild positive correlation was seen with HbA1c (%), gender, meandering capillary, bushy capillary, neoangiogenesis, capillary dropout and bizarre capillary.
Conclusion: NFC can be used as a tool in assessing the capillaroscopic alterations in diabetics as an indicator of severity of DR.