SP0112 Microcirculation in rheumatic diseases
Authors: V. Smith
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2018)

<h3>Background</h3> The EULAR Study Group on Microcirculation in Rheumatic Diseases (SG MC/RD) aims to build an international network of expert centres to facilitate and exchange knowledge. It is a non-profit group and has no financial support. Both altered microvascular morphology and peripheral flow are the main focus of research. <h3>Objectives</h3> 1) To integrate different expertises to study the pathophysiology of disease processes. 2) To exchange knowledge and to facilitate standardisation concerning different techniques to assess the (micro)circulation such as nailfold capillaroscopy, laser doppler and laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA). 3) To elaborate predictive indexes for disease progression and follow-up based on the integration of different tools and biomarkers. 4) To develop intervention protocols based upon an understanding of and targeting disease mechanisms (i.e. microvascular damage progression to fibrosis). <h3>Methods</h3> The EULAR SG MC/RD was accepted by the EULAR Executive committee in March 2014 and is being supervised by the EULAR Committee on Investigative Rheumatology, currently chaired by Prof. X. Mariette. Anno 2018 the number of members has risen to 79 (out of which 26 from 14 non-European countries).The EULAR study group meets half yearly (every EULAR/ACR) and organises training courses every two years at Genova and supplies continuous training through the EULAR imaging library. <h3>Results</h3> The following projects resulted in publications: As standardisation of techniques to evaluate the microcirculation is one of the aims of the study group, a first activity was a multi-centre study to assess the reliability of simple capillaroscopic definitions to evaluate morphologies of single capillaries.<sup><sup>1</sup></sup> Optimatisation of reliability of initial definitions has been obtained at the 7th EULAR course on capillaroscopy.<sup><sup>2</sup></sup> Secondly, the evaluation of interrater reliability of microcirculatory flow evaluation by LASCA was piloted by 2 of the founding members and has been published.<sup><sup>3</sup></sup> Thirdly, a cross-sectional, international SUrvey on non-iNvaSive tecHniques to assess which tools are being used to evaluate the mIcrocirculation in patients with RayNaud’s phEnomenon has been performed in between 471 eligible physicians.<sup><sup>4</sup></sup> A 4th publication resulted from a systematic review, analysing the role of capillaroscopy in systemic lupus erythematosus, based on standard interpretation of capillaroscopy according to the EULAR SG MC/RD.<sup><sup>5</sup></sup> <h3>Conclusions</h3> The relatively young EULAR SG MC/RD is thriving well, based on multi-centre joint forces to achieve standardisation of microcirculatory evaluation of rheumatic diseases as well as in achieving clinical as well as basic science research.<sup><sup>6</sup></sup> <h3>References</h3> [1] Smith V, et al. Rheumatology2016;55(5):883–90. [2] Cutolo M, et al. <i>Rheumatology (oxford)</i>2018. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kex460 [Epub ahead of print]. [3] Lambrecht V, et al. Ann Rheum Dis2016;75(6):1263–4. [4] Ingegnoli F, et al. Rheumatol Int2017;37(11):1879–90. [5] Cutolo M, et al. Autoimmun Rev2018. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2017.11.025 [Epub ahead of print]. [6] Mostmans Y, et al. Autoimmun Rev2017;16(8):774–86. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared