A laser Doppler device with the capability to simultaneously measure skin blood flow, microvascular volume, and erythrocyte velocity was used to assess blood flow changes in 35 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) subjects, mean age 33 ± 1 yr, with average duration of diabetes 14 ± 1 yr, and in a nondiabetic control group. Blood flow was determined at 35 and 44°C at several sites on the upper and the lower extremities with a temperature-regulated probe. Blood flow was highest at both temperatures on the pulps of the index finger and the first toe, regions of high density of arteriovenous anastomoses. There was significantly greater blood flow at most locations for the nondiabetic than the diabetic group at 35°C, and the differences between the two groups were substantially larger at 44°C. At 44°C, blood flow in the control group was ∼40% greater in the upper extremity and 50% greater in the lower extremity than it was in the diabetic subjects. The differences were attributed to decreases of both microvascular volume and velocity in the diabetic group. In the upper extremity, volumes in the diabetic patients were 10–15% lower and velocities 10–40% lower than in the nondiabetic subjects. In the lower extremity, volumes were 20–25% lower and velocities 40–50% lower. We conclude that laser Doppler techniques can be used to assess microvascular changes in the skin of diabetic patients. This approach may be useful to evaluate and model diabetic microangiopathy.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Original Articles|
July 01 1989
Microvascular Blood Flow, Volume, and Velocity Measured by Laser Doppler Techniques in IDDM
Marc Rendell;
Marc Rendell
Creighton Diabetes Center, Omaha, Nebraska; TSI, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Division of Research Services, Biomedical and Instrumentation Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Search for other works by this author on:
Tom Bergman;
Tom Bergman
Creighton Diabetes Center, Omaha, Nebraska; TSI, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Division of Research Services, Biomedical and Instrumentation Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Search for other works by this author on:
Greg O'Donnell;
Greg O'Donnell
Creighton Diabetes Center, Omaha, Nebraska; TSI, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Division of Research Services, Biomedical and Instrumentation Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Search for other works by this author on:
Ed Drobny;
Ed Drobny
Creighton Diabetes Center, Omaha, Nebraska; TSI, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Division of Research Services, Biomedical and Instrumentation Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Search for other works by this author on:
John Borgos;
John Borgos
Creighton Diabetes Center, Omaha, Nebraska; TSI, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Division of Research Services, Biomedical and Instrumentation Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Search for other works by this author on:
Robert F Bonner
Robert F Bonner
Creighton Diabetes Center, Omaha, Nebraska; TSI, Inc.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Division of Research Services, Biomedical and Instrumentation Branch, National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland
Search for other works by this author on:
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Marc Rendell, Creighton Diabetes Center, 601 North 30th Street, Omaha, NE 68131.
Diabetes 1989;38(7):819–824
Article history
Received:
July 18 1988
Revision Received:
February 22 1989
Accepted:
February 22 1989
PubMed:
2737363
Citation
Marc Rendell, Tom Bergman, Greg O'Donnell, Ed Drobny, John Borgos, Robert F Bonner; Microvascular Blood Flow, Volume, and Velocity Measured by Laser Doppler Techniques in IDDM. Diabetes 1 July 1989; 38 (7): 819–824. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.38.7.819
Download citation file:
160
Views