en Reumatology Reumatology Original Article Original Article <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Background: </em></strong></span>Microvascular changes are one of the first obvious steps in numerous inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nailfold video capillaroscopy (NFC) is an easy, reliable and safe method for evaluating peripheral microangiopathy. The objective of this study was to examine nailfold microcirculation in RA patients, assess morphological and structural changes quantitatively and qualitatively, and recognize useful changes.<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Methods: </em></strong></span>A total of 430 patients diagnosed with RA were examined in a period of 4 years. NFC was performed on all fingers of both hands in each patient. Different parameters indicating microvascular changes were detected and analyzed; such as microvascular architecture, capillary distribution disturbances, capillary morphology, capillary density, efferent/afferent limb ratio, subpapillary venular plexus and morphological abnormalities. The obtained results were categorized into normal pattern, nonspecific morphological abnormality and scleroderma pattern.<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Results: </em></strong></span>The mean age of participants was 51.03&plusmn;14.54 (19-87 years) that consisted of 359 females and 71 males. Based on the findings, angiogenesis (74.7%) was the most pathological condition observed after tortuosity (99.5%). 7.2% and 20.9% of patients were categorized into normal and scleroderma pattern group, respectively. Among morphological abnormalities, angiogenesis, isolated enlarged loop, irregular enlarged loop and architectural derangement were significantly more frequent in scleroderma than normal pattern (p<0.001).<br> <span style="color:#0000FF;"><strong><em>Conclusion: </em></strong></span>NFC may play an important role in monitoring RA disease and patients&rsquo; follow-up. Therefore, in our opinion it could be considered in the course and follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis.</span></span> <p></p> Rheumatoid arthritis, Nailfold video capillaroscopy, Scleroderma pattern 269 275 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-627-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Alireza Rajaei arrajaei@gmail.com 10031947532846009993 10031947532846009993 No Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. Pooneh Dehghan poonehdehghan@yahoo.com 10031947532846009994 10031947532846009994 No Department of Radiology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Amiri aliamiri.aa@hotmail.com 10031947532846009995 10031947532846009995 Yes Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.