Laser Doppler Gianni Belcaro, Ulrich Hoffmann, Alfred Bollinger, Andrew Nicolaides, London, 1994, Med-Orion Publishing Co., 293 pages. Laser Doppler flux (LDF) metering is a very intriguing method because it permits continuous, noninvasive monitoring of skin perfusion. Despite a voluminous literature since the late 1970s, the method has not yet found a permanent niche in the armamentarium of the clinical vascular laboratory. The publication Laser Doppler, edited by four international highly recognized researchers-clinicians, will therefore be read by vascular clinicians with high expectations that will be fulfilled to a large extent. Multiple editorship has, of course, its negative aspects, such as, some duplication (e.g., describing basic principles and theory in chapters 1 and 2; repeated discussion of "calibration" in several chapters). It is interesting that, despite a number of publications attempting to correlate LDF output with skin blood flow, this effort stops at correlation at best, in view of microvascular heterogeneity and especially in the absence of real calibration of the LDF system, including the sensor. In view of these circumstances it is surprising that some manufacturers even offer results in flow units (ml/min/100 gm). This should be more critically discussed in the respective chapters. The selection of topics is very helpful to practicing clinicians, especially to those who believe that a reliable noninvasive method measuring skin perfusion is overdue. Various application areas are discussed in detail (clinical microcirculation — use of combined sensors, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, Raynaud's phenomenon, plastic surgery, etc.). Clinical use of LDF in evaluation of intestinal ischemia is generally not fully recognized, and the respective chapter may help remedy this situation. An ideal application area of LDF is the "Evaluation of pharmacologic effects," which is exhaustively and critically discussed. There is a very helpful review of different commercially available Doppler "flow" meters, which represents a convenient shopping guide. Appendix 3 is actually a brief description of the newly developed laser Doppler perfusion imaging system; the laser Doppler imaging system, with its potential, would have deserved a more comprehensive exposure. Perhaps this will happen in the second edition, which the book deserves. Summarizing, this is a well-balanced overview, covering several clinical specialties and inviting the forward-looking clinician and researcher to consider the application of LDF method in daily practice.