Acute Effects and Long-Term Variations in Skin Blood Flow Measured with Laser Doppler Flowmetry

Abstract

Skin blood flow of 30 healthy volunteers (age 17-58 years) was measured at a number of sites and in different ways using laser Doppler flowmetry (Periflux®) to establish reference values. The interindividual and spatial variations were great. The long-term variation in skin blood flow was studied in five subjects from the above group, both at 2-h intervals on the same day and on five different days within 2-3 weeks. No significant variation between the values recorded at different times was observed. Forehead was the best measurement site showing the lowest coefficient of variation (CV) of 20-21%, all mean values recorded at different times falling within the 95% confidence limits of the reference values. Forearm skin blood flow was also followed in another 12 healthy volunteers (age 21-24 years) after administration of 0.5 mg of sublingual nitroglycerin. A rapid and transient increase of about 40%) in blood flow, which peaked at 3-4 min was observed (P < 0.05).

It is concluded that laser Doppler flowmetry is very sensitive in measuring acute changes in skin blood flow, and may also be applicable in long-term studies on factors affecting microcirculatory flow.

Key Words:

• skin blood flow
• laser Doppler flowmetry
• nitroglycerin
• reproducibility