Wednesday 2 October 2019

Nailfold Capillaroscopy Equipment. Raynaud's Awareness. The Raynaud's Unit, the Royal Free NHS Hospital, London.

  
Nailfold Capillaroscopy Equipment. 
Raynaud's Awareness.
The Raynaud's Unit, the Royal Free NHS Hospital, London.
#RaynaudsFreeWorld  #Research 

blog.raynaudsscleroderma.co.uk






Nailfold capillaroscopy equipment is used to assess the blood vessels and blood capillaries with view to measuring microvascular abnormalities, which would show a possible autoimmune rheumatic disease such as scleroderma. 

Should any abnormalities be present, blood flow will be impaired. 


The image above shows healthy, normal capillaries. 

With a primary Raynaud’s patient, and a normal individual, the blood vessels and capillaries show no irregularity or damage, in their make up. 



In an autoimmune disease such as scleroderma, the blood vessels and capillaries show distortion, damage and irregularity to their make up.  As can be seen in the image above. 


This photo shows the ‘capillaroscopy bench’ at the Raynaud’s Unit, The Royal Free Hospital. 

The entire equipment costs several thousands of pounds. 

Clearly, this equipment is crucial to determine a Raynaud’s diagnosis along with any potential secondary underlying autoimmune rheumatic disorder.   



The thermal imaging equipment, used to investigate the heat emitted further to a cold stimuli, and thereby measuring blood flow, is also crucial equipment to investigate blood flow. 

The thermal imaging equipmment costs in excess of £5,000.   


This photo shows the thermal imager used at the Raynaud’s Unit, The Royal Free Hospital.   



To view more about this thermal image video, Click here  

Huge thanks go to Dr Howell for making these images available.  


Kevin Howell PhD ASIS FRPS MIPEM CSci
Clinical Scientist and Honorary Research Associate

UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation
Royal Free Campus
Rowland Hill Street
London. NW3 2PF
UK

Without a shadow of doubt, the entire global Raynaud’s community are eternally grateful to Dr Howell for his dedication and commitment to the Raynaud’s enigma over the course of his career within the NHS, which he is currently celebrating his 27th year.  

Many congratulations and Thank You Dr Howell, the Raynaud’s global trailblazer. 



To view the UK treatment guidelines for Raynaud’s Phenomenon, Click here    
The Raynaud's Unit, the Royal Free NHS Hospital, London, Click here.

To view the EULAR treatment guidelines, Click here      

To view more about the thermograph video equipment, Click here     


To view more about the thermograph image, Click here      
 
  

My Raynaud’s reality, Click here        
 
 
 


To read My ‘Invisible Disability’ experience, Click here     

Hottest day of 2013 - Im wearing Ugg boots and gloves to try and prevent a Raynaud's attack!

'How to diagnose Raynaud's', Click here    
50 Shades of Blue, Click here    
Raynaud's Awareness 2018, Click here     
 
The Raynaud's Unit, the Royal Free Hospital, Click here  
Please DONATE to help fund medical research into the cause and cure for Raynaud's, at the Raynaud's Unit, The Royal Free Hospital, UK.  
 
 
All of your monies will be used for medical research purposes only, lead by the world trail blazer Dr Kevin Howell.
  

Dr Howell and I, Sept 2017
  

Facebook Page: Raynauds Unit Royal Free Hospital
  
Twitter, You Tube, Instagram: @RaynaudsRf
Living the dream, hoping for a cure ....

  
To Read My Articles:    

Leaving a gift in my Will, Click here   

Planning for the Future, Click here  
Rare Disease Day 2019:   
 
Leaving a Legacy Gift, Click here     
Celebrating 20 years of being a patient at the Scleroderma Unit, Click here
2019 New Challenges, Click here
 
Becoming a Patient Research Ambassador for the NIHR, Click here   

   
If we only had more RESEARCH investment for Scleroderma, Raynaud's, Autoimmune Rare Disease, Click here   

The Importance of Medical Research and Awareness to the Scleroderma, Raynaud's, Autoimmune Rare Disease patient, Click here  

2018 Scleroderma Awareness Raising and Medical Research, Click here
     


Order your awareness t-shirt here  

June 2019
Huge Thanks to Ellen, Dianne and the Royal Free Charity team

Importance of an early diagnosis, Click here   

Unmet clinical needs, Click here  
    
Taking Part in Clinical Research Trials, Click here    
The Importance of a Multi Disciplinary Medical ‘Dream Team’, Click here    
Expert Specialist Centres, Click here     
  
My Skin is Cured from Scleroderma, Click here    
UK Guidelines for Managing and Treating Scleroderma, Click here       
Fatigue, Click here        
Mobility, Click here      

Diet and nutrition, Click here
   

Sept 2017

Prof Chris Denton and I, Sept 2017
This year, 2019, I am celebrating 21 years of being a patient at the Scleroderma Unit, The Royal Free Hospital - a world leading expert specialist, research centre.   
Read more, here.  
I am eternally grateful to the global scleroderma trail blazers Dame Prof Black and Prof Chris Denton, whose commitment and dedication to unlocking the scleroderma enigma, is nothing other than, superhuman. Along with the Raynaud's world trail blazer, Dr Kevin Howell.  
I am truly humbled and inspired by their work ethic and commitment to their patients.  
I am wholly appreciative for Prof Denton’s continued medical expertise and support, especially during my barrister qualifying years, 1997 - 2004. 
 
1st March 2004, I qualified as a self employed practising barrister. Further to having been told in 1997, by my diagnosing doctor, that I was looking at a 15month prognosis.  
Read more about me, here   



Chat Magazine 16.5.19
 

World Scleroderma Day 2018, Click here    
World Scleroderma Day 2017, 29th June, Click here    
World Scleroderma Day 2016, 29th June. Origins of the date, Click here   
World Scleroderma Day 2015, 29th June. 

James Carver, myself, Prof Chris Denton, at The European Parliament 2015.
I had the pleasure of being a presenter and part of the European co-hort who gave a presentation at the European Parliament, Brussels, in honour of World Scleroderma Day 2015.  

I am immensely grateful to James Carver MEP for organizing this event in memory of his late wife Carmen, who sadly passed from Scleroderma. 
To view the presentation, Click here   
To view my 2016 Scleroderma Awareness Campaign, A to Z Video, all you need to know:  

 
 
To view global patient profiles, my 2017/ 2018 video Scleroderma Awareness Campaign Index     

Week 3, 2017 Patient Profiles: Medical areas of current interest, Click here 
Week 2, 2017 Patient Profiles: Progress in Medical Research, Click here   
Week 1, 2017 Patient Profiles: Introduction to multi complex disease, Click here 
Why I chose global Patient Profiles for my 2017 / 2018 Campaign, Click here 
 
2017 Global Patient Profiles Campaign Introduction, Click here 
 
'Being your own awareness advocate', Click here
 
Scleroderma Awareness Month Flashback 2017, Click here  
Scleroderma Awareness Month Flashback 2016, Click here   
RARE DISEASE DAY: 
The theme to 2018 year's Rare Disease Day was Research
Rare Disease Day 2018 – Research, Taking Part in Clinical Trials. Scleroderma, Raynaud's, Autoimmune Rare Disease, Click here

2016 Rare Disease Day Patient Voice
2016 Rare Disease UK Parliamentary Reception

2017 Rare Disease Day Flashback  
2017 Rare Disease Day unmet clinical needs to the scleroderma patient 
   
 
Rare Disease Day is a fantastic opportunity for the entire rare disease community to shine a spotlight on their reality, combining as one unified voice. Where, at least one commonality presides –  
Medical Research provides the brightest light
for the illumination of the rare disease patients’ plight.
I highlighted other areas of medical research interest within Week 3 of my Patient Profiles Campaign for Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017. 

Although rare disease patients are few in number, eg. 2.5 million scleroderma patients worldwide, (the World Scleroderma Foundation), the commonalities and golden hallmark for each rare disease patient are the same:  
Early Diagnosis 
Expert Specialist Centres 
Access to Innovative Medicines 
Where MEDICAL RESEARCH investment is VITAL.
Research is the key
 
 



 

 

For latest updates follow: 
 
Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Instagram:
SclerodermaUnit Royal Free: @SclerodermaRF
  
RaynaudsUnit Royal Free @RaynaudsRf 

Facebook Pages:
#SclerodermaFreeWorld #RaynaudsFreeWorld  #Research
    
Please DONATE to help fund medical research into the cause and cure for Raynaud's, at the Raynaud's Unit, The Royal Free Hospital, UK.
Thank You. 
 




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