Videocapillaroscopy and Diabetes mellitus: area of transverse segment in nailfold capillar loops reflects vascular reactivity.
The value of measuring projected area of transverse segment of hand nailfold capillary loops using computerized videophotometry was studied in 17 healthy individuals (10 women and 7 men) group A and 17 patients with diabetes type 2 (10 women and 7 men) group B with comparable ages (49.94+/-8.62 x 49.11+/-14.63 years old P=0.49). Videocapillaroscopy (VC) was performed under controlled temperature environment (24-26 degrees C). The test of post-occlusive reactive hyperemia was performed using a sphygmomanometer attached to the fourth left hand finger, 20 mmHg above maximum arterial pressure during 1 min. Images were captured each 2 s during 1 min. Time averages to reach the maximum post-ischemia area were determined as well as the area's increment percent in both groups. Both averages were compared by the Mann-Whitney test. There was no differences between area increments percent averages among controls and patients with diabetes (52.49+/-22.6 x 67.99+/-47.48% P=0.67), but the time to reach it during reperfusion was significantly increased among diabetics (5.52+/-2.96 x 18.58+/-8.08 s P<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
changes of capillary response to ischemia may be observed among patients with diabetes through bi-dimensional measures of projected area of capillary loops transverse segment in VC using a computerized system of image analysis. Patients with Diabetes mellitus do not have significantly different maximum area increments than controls, but spend more time to reach it during reperfusion.
Halfoun
V L R C
VL
Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pires
M L E
ML
Fernandes
T J
TJ
Victer
F
F
Rodrigues
K K
KK
Tavares
R
R
D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply*; D014664:Vasodilation