Abstract
The cluster analysis was applied to asses the genesis of microangiopathy of the small blood vessels of nailbed in diabetics. The score of patients were calculated by the points given to abnormal findings in loops of nailbed vessels as reported previously.
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 composed of three groups. The first cluster includes granularities and fine capillaries and the composition seems to indicate a narrowing of small blood vessels (sclerotic changes). The second one consists of dilatation and NAE findings, and seems to express the changes due to dilatation of the vessels. The third one includes remaining four findings and the composition may indicate the changes in a vessel length.
The results of this cluster analysis suggests the findings in small blood vessels of nailbed in adultonset diabetics to be composed at least three different kinds of pathological changes.
