Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Diabetes Mellitus: Potential Technique for the Microvasculature Evaluation

Abstract

The capillary loop consists of an arterial or afferent branch and a venous or efferent branch. The main parameters to be evaluated are: length, diameter, density, venous plexus and morphological abnormalities. These elements should be evaluated in the distal row or near the nailfold. The normal number of capillaries per millimeter is from seven to twelve arranged in an inverted U-shape (Figure 1).