title: [A study on relationship of purple tongue and its regional blood flow].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship of purple tongue and its regional blood flow.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser-Doppler flow meter was employed to test the volume and velocity of blood flow at different sites of purple tongue (56 cases) and normal tongue (54 cases), and the test results were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volume of blood flow of purple tongue was significantly lower than that of the normal tongue (P<0.01), while the velocity was significantly higher (P<0.01). The volume and velocity of blood flow at different sites of the tongue were similar without significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The volume of blood flow of purple tongue is decreased and the velocity increased. Purple tongue may be caused by dysfunction of the microcirculation of the tongue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First People  s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Cun-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Song-Po
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ci
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zheng-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014059:Tongue / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*