PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - O Ushiyama
AU  - K Ushiyama
AU  - T Yamada
AU  - S Koarada
AU  - Y Tada
AU  - N Suzuki
AU  - A Ohta
AU  - K Nagasawa
TI  - Retinal findings in systemic sclerosis: a comparison with nailfold capillaroscopic patterns
AID  - 10.1136/ard.62.3.204
DP  - 2003 Mar 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 204--207
VI  - 62
IP  - 3
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/62/3/204.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/62/3/204.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2003 Mar 01; 62
AB  - Objective: To determine the prevalence of retinal disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to characterise the findings of retinopathy. Additionally, to analyse the association of retinal disease with other clinical/laboratory findings, particularly the findings of nailfold capillaries in patients with SSc. Methods: Photographs of the ocular fundi were taken and were evaluated by an ophthalmologist who was unaware of the SSc status of the patients. The nailfold capillaries were analysed with a dermatoscope. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of retinal disease. Results: Retinal findings of the patients with SSc consisted of hard exudates, vascular tortuosity, microhaemorrhage, and macular degeneration. The prevalence of retinal disease among the patients with SSc was 34% (10/29), compared with 8%(3/38) among the controls (p=0.011). The mean systolic blood pressure and the age of the patients in group A were significantly higher than those in group B. However, there was no significant difference in the nailfold capillary damage between groups A and B. Conclusion: Retinal abnormalities are often seen in patients with SSc and they may reflect the vascular changes characteristic of SSc. However, retinal changes may differ in quality from the changes of nailfold capillaries.