TY - JOUR T1 - Scleroderma-like Pattern in Various Rheumatic Diseases JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 942 LP - 942 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.200020 VL - 47 IS - 6 AU - SEVDALINA NIKOLOVA LAMBOVA Y1 - 2020/06/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/47/6/942.1.abstract N2 - To the Editor:The recently published paper by van Roon, et al addresses an interesting question about the presence of “scleroderma” pattern in different connective tissue diseases and its association with abnormal pulmonary function tests1. The authors have detected it in 88% of cases with systemic sclerosis (SSc; 35/40), in 17% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; 5/30) and in 13% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA; 2/15). Of note, apart from its association with the presence of Raynaud phenomenon (RP) in connective tissue diseases, “scleroderma-like” capillaroscopic pattern could also be associated with the presence of cutaneous digital vasculitis2,3.“Scleroderma/scleroderma-like” is characterized with giant capillaries (diameter > 50 μm), hemorrhages, derangement, avascular areas, and neoangiogenesis. The presence of giant capillaries represents a mandatory criterion in the initial stages of this capillaroscopic pattern that may present as an isolated finding. Scleroderma-type capillaroscopic pattern is observed in the vast majority … Address correspondence to Dr. S.N. Lambova, Medical University – Plovdiv, Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, 15A Vasil Aprilov Blvd., Plovdiv 4002, Bulgaria. E-mail: sevdalina_n{at}abv.bg ER -