The prospective capillaroscopic observation of AngioGenesis and New Induction vessels by warming in systemic sclerosis: AGNI study
We previously reported that site-specific heating of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) resulted in improvements in the severity, frequency, and duration of Raynaud's phenomenon. Furthermore, heating caused an increase in the concentration of angiopoietin-1, a capillary stabilizing factor, in the finger tissue. However, it is unknown whether the increased concentration of angiopoietin-1 modifies the capillary deformities observed in patients with systemic sclerosis. Therefore, we initiated the current study named "Prospective capillaroscopic observation of angiogenesis and new induction vessels as a result of warming in patients with systemic sclerosis [AGNI study]".
In the AGNI study, we asked patients with scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomenon to wear a heating pad on their elbows for 8 weeks. We then used a capillaroscope to evaluate the shape of the capillaries before and after heating every 4 weeks for 6 months. Similar to the findings of our previous site-specific heating tests, the angiopoietin-1 concentration in the fingertips increased after heating. Furthermore, this increase in angiopoietin-1 did not immediately decrease after heating was terminated. Capillaroscopy showed that the proportion of normal hairpin-shaped capillaries increased after heating, and that this rate of increase was closely related to the increase in the angiopoietin-1 concentration.
It is known that the angiopoietin-1 concentration decreases and the capillaries become tortuous in patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). It is expected that warming the upper limbs near the elbows will result in an increase in the angiopoietin-1 concentration and an improvement in the morphology of the capillaries. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Microvascular Research. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mvr.2024.104761)
