Abstract
Aging alters vascular and nervous systems. Skin pressure‐induced vasodilation (PIV) relying on intact neurovascular interaction tests the capacity of the skin to resist to pressure‐induced ischemia. We hypothesized that PIV would be altered in older subjects because of the endothelial dysfunction and would be aggravated by a neuropathy. Subjects were divided according to their age (20‐35 or 60‐75 yrs) and the presence of peripheral neuropathy. In the skin microcirculation, PIV was reduced in non neuropathic older subjects (12±7%) compared to young subjects (62±4%) and was totally abolished in neuropathic older subjects (‐31±10%). The skin endothelium‐dependent responses to acetylcholine and local heating were likewise reduced in both groups of older subjects, showing a comparable endothelial dysfunction. The quantitative sensory tests showed an early C‐fiber dysfunction in non neuropathic older subjects, which was emphasized in neuropathic older subjects. Therefore, for a given endothelial dysfunction, the alteration of the neurovascular interaction was mild to severe according to the degree of the severity of the C fiber dysfunction in older subjects. The skin neurovascular interaction testing could discriminate subjects into subgroups presenting different capacities to resist against tissue ischemia with comparable endothelial dysfunction. Supported by PHRC 2005‐541 and MEDD 0000375.
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