Thirty patients with type 1 diabetes (DM1) (target group) and 24 controls were studied through nailfold capillaroscopy. Both groups were age, color and sex matched. Statistically significant high frequencies of edema, dilatation and tortuosity of efferent branches and microectasy were found in microcirculation. Dermal papillae rectification as an isolated finding did not characterize edema because its frequency was high among controls. Rather than is reported in type 2 DM, afferent branch spasticity and long loops were significantly frequent among the target group. These data suggest that nailfold capillaroscopy may be an important method for the diagnosis and follow up of vascular abnormalities in DM1.
Diabetes mellitus type 1; Microcirculation; Capillaroscopy; Microangiopathy
