Is nailfold capillary density importantly associated over time with muscle and skin disease activity in juvenile dermatomyositis?
NCD is a marker of skin and muscle disease activity, and is an important measure of disease activity changes from visit to visit. Determination of capillary density may be useful when making treatment decisions. A decrease in NCD may be considered for inclusion in the diagnostic criteria due to its high sensitivity.
Young children with severe liver dysfunction appear to have a high prevalence of food sensitisation. Hepatic mechanisms may therefore be important for establishing immune tolerance to dietary antigens in humans.