First evaluation of microvascular damage through nailfold capillaroscopy of an uncommon case of Raynaud's phenomenon in multiple sclerosis: Case report and literature review.

Abstract

Introduction: The occurrence of Raynaud's phenomenon in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is infrequently documented in the literature. Some cases have been attributed to interferon-β therapy, while others have emerged in MS patients who sub-sequently developed Raynaud's phenomenon and/or systemic sclerosis. The association between microangiopathic damage and both Raynaud's phenomenon and systemic sclerosis is well-established, leading to the adoption of nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) as a non invasive diagnostic tool for the initial clinical assessment of these conditions.

Case presentation: We present a case study of a 42-year-old female patient with Raynaud's phenomenon in MS. The patient underwent NVC in 2023 showing microvascular impairment and after one year and Natalizumab treatment she repeated NVC evaluation with significant improvement in previous microangiopathic changes. A comprehensive literature review regarding the relationship between MS and Raynaud's phenomenon was conducted using electronic databases (PUBMED, UpToDate, Google Scholar, ResearchGate), along with manual searches for relevant articles published up to December 2024.

Discussion: This case highlights the potential utility of NVC in the ongoing evaluation of microangiopathic damage in MS patients exhibiting Raynaud's phenomenon. By elucidating the overlap between these conditions, NVC may serve as a valuable tool in the clinical management of affected individuals.