Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
SEMINARS IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM, cilt.77, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objective: Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare, immune-mediated vasculopathy characterized by muscle inflammation and cutaneous involvement. This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal changes in nailfold video capillaroscopy (NVC) findings and their associations with clinical disease activity and serologic markers in JDM patients over one year. Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted at two tertiary pediatric rheumatology clinics. Twenty children diagnosed with JDM were enrolled and followed for one year with clinical evaluations and NVC assessments performed at four-month intervals. Demographic and clinical data, Skin Disease Activity Score (Skin DAS), Childhood Myositis Assessment Scale (CMAS), patient and physician visual analog scales (VAS), and laboratory parameters (muscle enzymes, inflammatory markers) were recorded at each visit. Results: Significant NVC abnormalities were observed in JDM patients compared to controls, including reduced capillary density and increased prevalence of dilated, giant, bushy, bizarre, and hemorrhagic capillaries (all p < 0.001). Capillary density showed a moderate inverse correlation with Skin DAS (r = -0.429), physician, and patient VAS. Bushy capillaries were positively associated with both patient and physician VAS. Among myositisspecific antibody subgroups, patients with anti-TIF1-gamma displayed the lowest capillary density and greatest apical loop diameter. Longitudinal analyses confirmed that capillary density and apical loop diameter were significant predictors of skin disease activity over time (p < 0.05), while associations with muscle strength were less robust. Conclusion: Nailfold video capillaroscopy provides valuable insights into microvascular alterations in JDM and correlates with clinical disease activity, particularly cutaneous involvement. Capillaroscopic parameters, especially capillary density and apical loop diameter, hold potential as non-invasive biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response in juvenile dermatomyositis.