Capillary microscopy in eosinophilic fasciitis. A comparison with systemic sclerosis.

Capillary microscopy was performed on 19 patients with eosinophilic fasciitis. These patients were compared with 13 individuals with progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Capillary patterns were normal in 16 of 19 (84%) eosinophilic fasciitis patients; 3 exhibited either borderline or nonspecific changes, and none showed a definite scleroderma pattern. In contrast, characteristic nailfold capillary changes, consisting of both dilatation and loss of capillaries, were present in 11 of 13 (85%) scleroderma patients; the remaining 2 showed scleroderma-type abnormalities of only 1 finger and were, therefore, classified as borderline. These results suggest that capillary microscopy may help to distinguish these 2 disorders.