The principal component analysis was applied to assess the genesis of microangiopathy of the samll blood vessels of nailbed in diabetics. The scores of patients were calculated by the points given to abnormal findings in loops of nailbed vessels. Calculation for principal component analysis was carried out with the computer NEAC 2200.
Abnormal findings of the small blood vessels in nailbed such as dilatations, wavings, tortuosities, branchings, nodular apical enlargements (NAE), tanglings, granularities and so called the fine capillaries were found to be separated into three groups. The first component includes dilatations and NAE findings and seems to indicate the changes due to dilatation of the vessels. The second one consists of granulalities and fine capillaries and seems to express sclerotic changes. The third one includes other four findings and indicates the changes in a vessel length.
These results suggests the findings in small blood vessels of nailbed in adult diabetics to be classified at least three different kinds of pathological changes.
