Raynaud’s phenomenon in a drummer player

Microvascular disorder and nailfold video capillaroscopic findings

Authors

  • Maria Maddalena Sirufo Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04, 64100 Teramo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1006-7121
  • Alessandra Catalogna Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04, 64100 Teramo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1299-7277
  • Francesca De Pietro Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04, 64100 Teramo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3784-347X
  • Lia Ginaldi Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04, 64100 Teramo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1841-2807
  • Massimo De Martinis Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy. Tel.: +39-0861-429548; Fax: +39-0861-211395; E-mail: demartinis@univaq.it https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4253-1312

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-4208

Keywords:

drummer, Raynaud's phenomenon, hand–arm vibration syndrome, occupational disease, musician, nailfold video capillaroscopy, arts medicine, microcirculation, vascular medicine

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.

Published

2021-10-28

How to Cite

Sirufo, M. M., Catalogna, A., De Pietro, F., Ginaldi, L., & De Martinis, M. (2021). Raynaud’s phenomenon in a drummer player: Microvascular disorder and nailfold video capillaroscopic findings. EXCLI Journal, 20, 1526–1531. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-4208

Issue

Section

Case reports