Study of Nailfold Capillaries in Hypertriglyceridemia (Types III and IV Hyperlipoproteinemia)

Reflected light nailfold capillaroscopy was used to discover micro-angiopathy in atherosclerotic patients with hypertriglyceridemia (types III and IV hyperlipoproteinemia). In comparison with healthy normolipemic controls, 51 of a series of 64 patients were found to have beds of dilated, congested, elongated, and tortuous capillary venular limbs and loops; and 29 of these with capillary abnormalities were found to have either fresh or old hemorrhages. Serial studies revealed that capillary hemorrhages tended to subside shortly after the hyperlipoproteinemia was controlled by a low carbohydrate diet, while the morphologic abnormalities showed little or no change for 8 to 21 months.