title: Videocapillaroscopy and Diabetes mellitus: area of transverse segment in nailfold capillar loops reflects vascular reactivity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina and Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: V L R C
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Halfoun
authors.forename: M L E
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Victer
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tavares
mesh_terms: 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