Diminished skin vasodilator response to local heating in patients with long-standingsubacute myelo-optico-neuropathy.
BACKGROUND
Local heating of non-glabrous skin increases skin blood flow (SkBF) in two phases: the initial peak (P1) is mediated by sensory axon reflex, and the plateau phase (P2) is thought to be mediated by local production of substances including nitric oxide. We evaluated P1 and P2 responses in subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy (SMON).


METHODS
SkBF response to local heating from 32 degrees C (5 min of baseline) to 42 degrees C (at least for 30 min) of the dorsal surface of the hand skin were measured in 7 SMON patients (67.6+/-10.0 years) and 7 normal control volunteers (65.0+/-7.4 years) participated.


RESULTS
Mean values of SkBF at P1 (SkBFP1) and SkBF during P2 (SkBFP2) were significantly lower in SMON patients than in controls (p<0.05, p<0.05). Mean SkBFP1/SkBF at baseline (SkBFbase) and SkBFP2/SkBFbase ratios were significantly lower in SMON patients than in controls (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The SkBF response to local heating was diminished in SMON patients. This may reflect the involvement of the spinal cord, peripheral sensory nerves, and sympathetic post-ganglionic nerves in SMON.
Yamanaka
Yoshitaka
Y
Department of Neurology, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan. y-yama@jk9.so-net.ne.jp
Asahina
Masato
M
Akaogi
Yuichi
Y
Koyama
Yu
Y
Hattori
Takamichi
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D007464:Clioquinol / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007464:Clioquinol