Visualization of dermal blood vessels--capillaroscopy.
Intravital capillaroscopy is the only noninvasive method available that visualizes directly the nutritional dermal capillaries. It can determine (in vivo): capillary morphology, including size, shape and tortuosity; capillary density; intercapillary distance; volume fraction (the percentage of skin occupied by microvessels); and changes in red cell velocity within capillaries. When capillaroscopy is performed using a video recording system, this permits real-time imaging of the cutaneous capillaries with retrospective analysis of capillary dynamics. Furthermore, when fluorescent dyes are injected intravenously, plasma-perfused capillaries are delineated allowing the calculation of several perfusion indices. Intravital capillaroscopy therefore permits the assessment of static as well as dynamic aspects of the skin microcirculation.
Hern
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Division of Physiological Medicine (Dermatology Unit), St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Mortimer
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D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D002196:Capillaries; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology