Abstract
IntroductionLaser Doppler imaging (LDI) is a relatively new method for assessing the functional aspect of superficial skin blood flow in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud's phenomenon. The present study investigated the dynamic behavior of digital skin microvascular blood flow before and after cold stimulus (CS) in SSc patients and in healthy controls by means of a comprehensive approach of the functional (LDI), morphological (nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC)), and biochemical (fingertip lacticemy (FTL)) microcirculation components.MethodsForty-four SSc patients and 40 healthy controls were included. After acclimatization, all subjects underwent NFC followed by LDI and FTL measurement. NFC was performed with a stereomicroscope under 10× to 20× magnification in the 10 digits of the hands. Skin blood flow of the dorsum of four fingertips (excluding the thumb) of the left hand was measured using LDI at baseline and for 30 minutes after CS. The mean finger blood flow (FBF) of the four fingertips was expressed as arbitrary perfusion units. FTL was determined on the fourth left finger before (pre-CS-FTL) and 10 minutes after CS.ResultsLDI showed significantly lower mean baseline FBF in SSc patients as compared with controls (296.9 ± 208.8 vs. 503.6 ± 146.4 perfusion units; P < 0.001) and also at all time points after CS (P < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in mean FBF after CS as compared with baseline in SSc patients and in controls, followed by recovery of the blood flow 27 minutes after CS in healthy controls, but not in SSc patients. FBF tended to be lower in patients with digital scars and previous ulceration/amputation (P = 0.06). There was no correlation between mean baseline FBF and NFC parameters. Interestingly, there was a negative correlation between FTL and FBF measured by LDI in basal conditions and 10 minutes after CS in SSc patients.ConclusionsLDI showed lower digital blood flow in SSc patients when compared with healthy controls and correlated well with FTL both at baseline and after CS, allowing objective measurement of blood perfusion in SSc patients. The lack of correlation between functional and morphological microvascular abnormalities, measured by LDI and NFC, suggests they are complementary tools for evaluation of independent microangiopathy aspects in SSc patients.
Highlights
Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) is a relatively new method for assessing the functional aspect of superficial skin blood flow in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud’s phenomenon
The aims of the present study were to evaluate the dynamic behavior of digital skin microvascular blood flow before and after cold stimulus (CS) using LDI in patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) secondary to SSc compared with healthy controls, and to correlate digital skin microvascular blood flow with structural microvascular abnormalities and with biochemical peripheral abnormalities in patients with SSc
There was no correlation, between functional and morphological microvascular abnormalities measured by LDI and nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC), suggesting that these are complementary tools for evaluation of SSc microangiopathy
Summary
Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) is a relatively new method for assessing the functional aspect of superficial skin blood flow in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Raynaud’s phenomenon. Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a relatively common disorder characterized by episodic vasospasm of the extremities with a triphasic color change (blanching, cyanosis, and erythema) that usually occurs after tone, endothelial activation/lesion, and increased platelet adhesion can be detected early [3,4]. These alterations may result in progressive reduction of vessel lumen, decreased blood flow, and a state of chronic hypoxia, resulting in digital ulcers, digital pitting, and - in more severe cases - gangrene of the extremities. Patients with SSc exhibit a typical NFC pattern characterized by enlargement of capillary loops, loss of capillaries, a variable degree of microhemorrhage, disruption of the orderly appearance of the capillary bed, and distortion of capillaries [8,10]
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