Video capillaroscopy in Diabetes
Capillaroscopy is a method of recognized value in the study of morphological and
functional abnormalities of the microcirculation. Its use in the clinical field dates from the early
twentieth century, extending the clinical applications gradually over the years,
to be considered a “routine investigation” in rheumatological practice.
The introduction of video capillaroscopy with optical probes in contact resulted in a
significant leap forward in the study of microcirculation.
Videocapillaroscopy allows clinicians to acquire information on morphological and
hemodynamic parameters that could be useful like predictive value of extension, gravity and
evolution of disease. In this sense video capillaroscopy could be considered a double profile
examination, with diagnostic and prognostic values in the same time.
Chronic hyperglycemia is responsible for the metabolic alterations in endothelial
cells, and also of the smooth muscle of the vessel walls, resulting in impairment of contractile
properties together with permeability and hemodynamic modifications.
Parietal elasticity alteration transforms the vases in rigid ducts by thickened walls,
partly due to the non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins and partly due to the altered
metabolism of myo-inositol.
Decreased of parietal compliance cause the appearance of ectasia,
with micro aneurysms related to pressor stress.
Diabetes Res Open J. 2015; 1(2): e3-e6. doi: 10.17140/DROJ-1-e002
