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Title: Evaluation of cutaneous blood flow responses by /sup 133/Xe washout and a laser-Doppler flowmeter

Journal Article · · J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States)

A new method for noninvasive measurement of cutaneous blood flow is laser-Doppler flowmetry. The technique is based on the fact that laser light is back-scattered from the moving red blood cells, with Doppler-shifted frequencies; these impulses lead to photodetectors and are converted to flow signals. In this work we used a new system with a low noise level. Comparison was made between this technique and the atraumatic epicutaneous /sup 133/Xe technique for measurement of cutaneous blood flow during reactive hyperemia and orthostatic pressure changes. The laser-Doppler flowmeter seems to measure blood flow in capillaries as well as in arteriovenous anastomoses, while the /sup 133/Xe method probably measures only capillary flow. A calibration of the laser-Doppler method against the /sup 133/Xe method would appear to be impossible in skin areas where arteriovenous anastomoses are present. The changes in blood flow during reactive hyperemia, orthostatic pressure changes, and venous stasis were found to be parallel as measured by the two methods in skin areas without shunt vessels. The laser-Doppler flowmeter would appear to be a useful supplement to the 133Xe washout method in cutaneous vascular physiology, but it is important to keep in mind that different parameters may be measured.

Research Organization:
University of Copenhagen Department of Dermatology, Denmark
OSTI ID:
5986983
Journal Information:
J. Invest. Dermatol.; (United States), Vol. 80:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English