Primary Raynaud’s
Raynaud’s occurs on its own, without an identified underlying disease. Capillary structure is generally preserved.
A guide for patients and anyone curious
Raynaud’s and capillaroscopy
Your fingers change colour in the cold, and your doctor has requested a capillaroscopy. What are they looking for?
The test helps your doctor look for changes in tiny blood vessels that may point to an underlying condition. A referral does not mean you have an autoimmune disease. [2]
Reviewed by Borja del Carmelo Gracia Tello
From symptoms to a closer look
Colour changes you notice
Tiny vessels your doctor examines
01 / Why this test?
Why look at the blood vessels?
In Raynaud’s, blood vessels temporarily narrow, often with cold or stress. Fingers may become pale, blue or red, with numbness or tingling. Not everyone notices all three colours, and changes look different on different skin tones. [1]
Secondary Raynaud’s
Raynaud’s is associated with another cause. Capillaroscopy helps look for changes linked to connective tissue diseases, particularly systemic sclerosis.
Three pieces of the assessment
Your symptoms
The history of your attacks and a clinical examination.
Capillaroscopy
The shape, width and distribution of the tiny vessels.
Other tests
Blood tests, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), when clinically appropriate.
Your doctor interprets these findings together. A microscope image alone cannot establish a diagnosis. [2]
02 / Your results
What might the results mean?
These are broad explanations of report terms, not a way to diagnose yourself from an image.
Normal
Reassuring vessel structure
A normal examination supports primary Raynaud’s in the right clinical context. It does not rule out every underlying condition or remove the need to review new symptoms.
Nonspecific changes
Changes without a characteristic pattern
Some variations do not identify a particular disease. Your doctor considers their extent, image quality and the rest of your assessment.
Scleroderma pattern
A finding that needs specialist interpretation
A characteristic combination of vessel changes may suggest a connective tissue disease. It needs to be interpreted alongside symptoms and other tests; the report is not a diagnosis by itself.
Capillaroscopy.com — clinical Raynaud’s chapter and references [4]
Does the test hurt?
No. Capillaroscopy does not hurt at all and is non-invasive. A microscope examines the area near your cuticles; there are no needles or cuts.
Do I need to be having a Raynaud’s attack?
No. The examination looks at vessel structure between attacks. You do not need to bring on an attack for the test.
Does an abnormal result mean I have scleroderma?
No. Abnormalities vary in significance. A nonspecific change is different from a scleroderma pattern, and even that pattern requires a full clinical assessment.
Will I need another capillaroscopy?
Sometimes. Follow-up depends on your symptoms, blood tests and initial findings. Your clinician will decide whether and when to repeat it; there is no single interval for everyone.
Take these questions to your appointment
- Is my result normal, nonspecific or a recognised pattern?
- How does it fit with my symptoms and blood tests?
- Do I need follow-up, and which changes should I report?
Choose where to go next
Sources and medical review
- NHS — Raynaud’s
- NIAMS — Diagnosis of Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Royal Free London — Having a capillaroscopy
- Capillaroscopy.com — clinical Raynaud’s chapter and references
Reviewed by Borja del Carmelo Gracia Tello
Educational information to help you understand the test. Your clinician can explain what your own results mean.
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