Periungueal capillaroscopy: An easy and reliable method to evaluate all microcirculation diseases

Periungueal capillaroscopy is a simple and reliable non-invasive technique allowing evaluation of cutaneous microcirculation. It was promoted for decades in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon in order to differentiate between the benign primary Raynaud's phenomenon and the secondary form in connective tissue diseases, especially systemic sclerosis. Nevertheless, the value of this procedure has also been shown in numerous pathologies such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. This literature review points to the versatility of this useful exam and its results in a large spectrum of diseases with microvascular involvement. (C) 2015 Societe nationale francaise de medecine interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.