Background Microcirculatory disorders are one of the most important clinical symptoms of systemic sclerosis (SSc), therefore we found it feasible to evaluate the clinical efficacy of biofeedback (BFB) in the complex therapy of patients with SSc based upon analysis of nailfold capillaroscopy.

Objectives To study the impact of the method of biofeedback therapy on microcirculation disturbances in patients with SSc.

Methods The study included 40 patients with SSc under observation. Among the patients examined, 95% were women and 5% were men. The average age of the patients - 38±3,3 years, duration of illness - 14±2,6 years. Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) was observed in all the patients. A severe form of RP was seen in 80% of the patients. The effectiveness of biofeedback therapy was analyzed by studying the dynamics of the measures from the nailfold capillaroscopy and comparing the data obtained of patients from the main and control groups.

Results It was found that, patients who were under biofeedback therapy, showed significant positive dynamics in the following signs of capillaroscopic picture: dilation of the capillaries (c2 =9,643 p=0,026), morphological changes of the capillaries (c2 =4,90 p=0,027), and hemorrhage (c 2 =4,514 p=0,034). In the control group of patients, in only one indicator of capillaroscopy that a significant change was noted, particularly by the presence of dilated capillaries (c2 =5,833 with p=0,016). These findings suggest that treatment results were significantly better in the main study group of patients with SSc.

Conclusions The implementation of biofeedback therapy favors a decrease in reflex musculo-tonic syndromes, improvement of microcirculation and peripheral blood flow and significantly allows an amelioration in the results of SSc therapy.

Disclosure of Interest None declared