Prognostic factors in Raynaud's phenomenon: usefulness of antinuclear antibodies and of periungual capillaroscopy [Fattori prognostici nel fenomeno di Raynaud: utilità degli anticorpi antinucleo e della capillaroscopia periungueale]

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and nailfold capillary microscopy have been evaluated as prognostic markers in patients with apparently idiopathic Raynaud's phenomenon. Results have shown that either ANA and peculiar alterations in nailfold capillaries are important risk factors as regard to the evolution into a connective tissue disease; furthermore, when both these markers are present in a patient with Raynaud's phenomenon, the risk of evolution is even greater. When sensibility and specificity have been compared, ANA appeared to be a more sensible test but nailfold capillary microscopy seemed to be more specific. Our data suggest that ANA and capillary microscopy are important tests in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon; they should be performed in order to identify those patients who are at greater risk of evolving to overt connective tissue disease.