title: [A thermal chamber for the cold test in vasomotor disorders].
abstract: The cold test represents an essential part of the functional exploration of the vascular system performed in Raynaud's disease, but its physiological nature depends upon the use of a sufficiently large area of skin. Several measurements must be conducted simultaneously and various temperature ranges used to allow for the variable threshold of vascular reactivity to cold of different individuals. A thermal chamber is presented which enables the simultaneous performance of plethysmography, digital pressure recordings and capillaroscopy at different temperature ranges. A novel use of a laser flowmeter is also described. Peri-ungual capillaroscopy enables determination of the temperature, when capillary spasm appears and then is relieved during progressive cooling followed by reheating. This apparatus can be adapted for use of all techniques for exploration of vascular function.
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D010991:Plethysmography; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012212:Rheology
vernacular_title: Chambre thermique pour test au froid des troubles vasomoteurs.