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Nailfold capillaroscopy in Raynaud's — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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EasyMusculoskeletal InvestigationsNailfold capillaroscopy in Raynaud'sSCE Rheumatology

A 67-year-old man has Raynaud's phenomenon, puffy fingers, positive ANA and no established connective tissue disease. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: ASecondary Raynaud's phenomenon

Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon is the single best answer because capillaroscopy can support secondary Raynaud's and systemic sclerosis-spectrum disease. The stem is testing diagnostic synthesis, not isolated recall, so the relevant clinical pattern and risk context determine the answer. Rheumatoid arthritis is less suitable because it fits a different clinical pattern or a different treatment threshold; Systemic lupus erythematosus, Psoriatic arthritis and Gout do not address the key discriminator in this vignette. Clinical pearl: in SCE-style rheumatology questions, autoantibodies, imaging and synovial fluid findings should be interpreted with the whole phenotype.

Reference: BSR hot swollen joint guidance; EULAR imaging/autoantibody recommendations