Raynaud's phenomenon in a drummer player: Microvascular disorder and nailfold video capillaroscopic findings

Maria Maddalena Sirufo; Alessandra Catalogna; Francesca De Pietro; Lia Ginaldi; Massimo De Martinis

doi:10.17179/excli2021-4208

Raynaud's phenomenon in a drummer player: Microvascular disorder and nailfold video capillaroscopic findings

EXCLI J. 2021 Oct 28:20:1526-1531. doi: 10.17179/excli2021-4208. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Maria Maddalena Sirufo^{1

2}, Alessandra Catalogna^{1

2}, Francesca De Pietro^{1

2}, Lia Ginaldi^{1

2}, Massimo De Martinis^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
² Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04, 64100 Teramo, Italy.

Abstract

Drummers are usually exposed to intensive physical stress and occupational diseases that have been only partially investigated. The majority of studies focus on musculoskeletal problems while microvascular abnormalities have been less considered. We report on a case of a 19-year-old drummer affected by Raynaud's phenomenon. The patient underwent nailfold video capillaroscopy that showed a non-specific pattern, with granular flow, dyshomogeneous capillary morphology, increased efferent/afferent loop ratio and many enlarged capillaries. The continuous exposition to vibration in drummers could determinate microvascular abnormalities with related cold induced disorders and Raynaud's phenomenon. Nailfold video capillaroscopy is a tool that allows to detect the alterations of the microcirculation and to carry out the follow-up of the patients with low cost, non-invasiveness, repeatability, high sensibility and specificity.

Keywords: Raynaud's phenomenon; arts medicine; drummer; hand-arm vibration syndrome; microcirculation; musician; nailfold video capillaroscopy; occupational disease.

Publication types

Case Reports