title: Variability of TcPO2-measurements at 37 degrees C and 44 degrees C in patients with claudication in consideration of provocation tests.
abstract: With regard to the increasing use of tcPO2-measurements for the assessment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease, the variability of the method needs more consideration. We studied the reproducibility of tcPO2 measured at 37 degrees C and 44 degrees C, especially under the influence of provocation tests, in 21 patients with severe claudication (ankle artery pressures (AP) 30-100 mmHg) without skin lesions. On 6 days within 2 weeks tcPO2 was recorded on the forefoot at 37 degrees C and 44 degrees C electrode core temperatures a) in supine position, b) in sitting position, c) during O2-breathing, d) during reactive hyperemia (RH). In measurements at 37 degrees C variation coefficients (VC) were high (mean +/- S.D.: 74 +/- 27%) and could not be improved by oxygen inhalation nor by the sitting position. Only during RH, VC decreased significantly to 49 +/- 23%. At 44 degrees C VC were still quite high (mean: 42 +/- 24%) and were inversely correlated with AP. Mean tcPO2 increased under all provocation maneuvers. However, only in the sitting position VC decreased significantly to 18.7 +/- 8.4% (p < 0.001). Single tcPO2 measurements, both at 37 degrees C and 44 degrees C, are of low value in patients with severe claudication. For the evaluation of the individual patient repeated measurements are demanded. Reduced variability may be achieved by measurements at 44 degrees C in a sitting position.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caspary
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Creutzig
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply