Digital Arteries in Patients With Scleroderma

Abstract

Digital arteriography and plethysmography were performed and correlated in 31 patients with scleroderma. Arteriograms demonstrated organic arterial stenosis or occlusion in 29. Lesions were most frequent in the proper digital arteries of the second, third, and fourth digits, but other vessels were often involved. Plethysmography demonstrated decreased pulse volume during maximal arterial dilation or rounded pulse contour, or both. Arteriographic and plethysmographic correlations of the amount or severity of arterial disease agreed closely in 50% of cases. Where agreement was not good, the plethysmograph underestimated the anatomic extent of disease.