We are a group of rheumatologists from different countries in the Americas, with an interest in promoting capillaroscopy, educating rheumatologists on the applications and methodology of this technique, and carrying out research projects to determine its applications in rheumatic diseases.
 

Objectives of the group
 

• Disseminate and promote the standardized and correct practice of capillaroscopy and videocapillaroscopy as diagnostic methods among rheumatologists in the Americas.
• Train rheumatologists in the Americas in the correct use and clinical applications of capillaroscopy.
• Promote multicenter research in the field of capillaroscopy and its clinical applications.

 

Main achievements
 

International collaboration: strengthened ties with the EULAR Capillaroscopy Group, leading to joint multicenter publications and, for the first time, participation of PANLAR members as faculty in EULAR courses.

Continuous training: for more than seven consecutive years, the group has organized pre-congress workshops at PANLAR Congresses, with a growing audience that surpassed 60 participants in 2024. In 2025, the tradition continues with a new pre-congress course.

Scientific production: research projects presented at PANLAR, including posters in the most recent edition, and manuscripts under submission.
 

Regional impact
 

The group has consolidated a Pan-American academic community in capillaroscopy, expanded the participation of experts from Latin America in international initiatives, and ensured the training of young rheumatologists in this technique.

 

Projects

 

• Reproducibility exercise in the interpretation of capillaroscopic images. Manuscript in press in the journal "Clinical Rheumatology".
• Design of a capillaroscopic study report. Ongoing project, currently in the phase of analyzing Delphi results among participants.
• Usefulness of capillaroscopy in the differential diagnosis of interstitial lung disease associated with autoimmunity. Ongoing project. Currently recruiting patients from participating centers.
• Videocapillaroscopic alterations in patients with Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Ongoing project. Currently recruiting patients from participating centers.