All tests
Procedures & other tests
Nailfold Capillaroscopy
A magnified look at the tiny blood vessels at the base of the fingernails.
Video lesson
Why it’s ordered
To tell primary from secondary Raynaud’s and to screen for scleroderma.
Understanding results
Enlarged, distorted or missing capillaries suggest an underlying connective tissue disease.
Good to know
Avoid manicures and cuticle trimming for a few weeks before the test.
At a glance
Type
Procedures & other tests
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
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