title: Diurnal and long-term variations of lymph capillary pressure in healthy subjects.
abstract: The variability of pressure in the cutaneous lymph capillaries on the forefoot was determined in 2 groups of healthy volunteers. In group A, including 12 healthy subjects (8 men, 4 women; mean age 28 years, range 22 to 37 years), measurements were performed in the morning and late afternoon of the same day. In group B (12 healthy subjects, 5 women, 7 men; mean age 53 years, range 23 to 72 years), measurements of lymph capillary pressure were repeated with an interval of 7 weeks. The superficial microlymphatics were visualized by intravital fluorescence microlymphography, cannulated with glass micropipettes, and the lymph capillary pressure was measured using a servonulling pressure system. In group A, lymph capillary pressure measured in the morning (mean 7.5 +/- 4.4 mmHg; range -4 to 16 mmHg) did not differ (p > 0.05) from the pressure in the late afternoon (mean value 5.6 +/- 3.4 mmHg; range-1 to 13 mmHg). In group B, initial lymph capillary pressure (mean 3.9 +/- 2.9 mmHg, range -1.1 to 9.7 mmHg) was not different (p > 0.05) compared with the pressure after 7 weeks (2.9 +/- 2.7 mmHg, range -1.0 to 6.8 mmHg). We conclude that lymph capillary pressure in healthy subjects does not exhibit significant changes during the daytime or over the long term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dörffler-Melly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bollinger
authors.forename: U K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Franzeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005545:Forefoot, Human / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008196:Lymph / Q000502:physiology; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results