Microcirculation in the elderly capillaroscopic evaluation.

Seventy-four healthy individuals aged 65 years or even (mean age 79.14±8.19, range 65-102), 38 females (51%) and 36 males (49%), were studied. The control group consisted of 62 healthy individuals under 65 years of age (mean age 44.7±9.3, range 18-58), 31 females (50%) and 31 males (50%). The patients with diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis systemic and connective tissue diseases were excluded. Twenty-two persons had a hystory of tabaccosis. All the subjects enrolled in the present study underwent a nai-fold capillaroscopy at 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th finger on both hands. Capillaroscopy was carried out in the morning, after fasting and at a steady room temperature, by using a Zeiss videomicroscope. The following capillaroscopic indexes were evaluated: (i) density of capillary loops, measured by counting the capillaries in the most distal row at the unguinal board; (ii) disorganization of capillary bed (edema, avascular areas); (iii) the occurrence of dystrophic loops, where dystrofics classified from V to VIII type according to Vayssairat and Priollet were considered as pathological; (iv) diameter anomalies (ectasias, microaneurysms, megacapillaries); (v) visibility of sub papillary venous plexus (SVP); (vi) microhemorrhages; (vii) arteriovenous sludge; (viii) the capillary length. Statistical analysis was carried out by using the X2 test. Nail-fold capillaroscopic analysis revealed that the dystrophic loops, microaneurysms, arteriovenous sludge and visibility of subpapillary venous plexus were foun exspecially (p<0.05) in the patients aged 65 years or over. In four ultracentenarians subjects reduced density of capillaries (<10/mm2) and avascular areas occurred. Our study shows that in elderly there are significant alterations of some nail-fold capillaroscopic parameters which are expression of tissutal hypoxia typical of the senescence