Nail blood vessel test
A nail blood vessel test is also known as nailfold capillaroscopy. Learn about this painless test, that helps doctors to assess the health of blood vessels all over the body.
1 min read
Looking at:
The small blood vessels in the skin near your nails. Scleroderma damages the small blood vessels, so examining this easy to see area can aid diagnosis.
What to expect:
A doctor or nurse will use a microscope or a small camera (a dermatoscope) to look at the skin at the bottom of your fingernails (your nailfold). The process of viewing these blood vessels (capillaries) is called nailfold capillaroscopy. The test is painless and usually takes place in a doctor’s office.1
Understanding your results:
The results will show the general health of the blood vessels in your body. In scleroderma, blood vessels can be abnormally shaped, and this can affect how your blood reaches areas of your body.
Did you know?
Abnormally-shaped blood vessels might be one reason for blood flow problems in scleroderma like Raynaud’s phenomenon.
You may also like to read:
Symptoms of scleroderma
Treatment
Testing for scleroderma
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BMJ Best Practice. Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma): diagnosis. Available: https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/295/investigations [Accessed December 2021].
"Try and get as much information as you can from your doctor. He or she is the expert. Take notes and don't be afraid to ask."
– Mike