title: Insight in human skin microcirculation using in vivo reflectance-mode confocal laser scanning microscopy.
abstract: Reflectance-mode confocal laser scanning microscopy allows in vivo imaging of the human skin. We hypothesized that this high-resolution technique enables observation of dynamic changes of the cutaneous microcirculation. Twenty-two volunteers were randomly divided in two groups. Group 1 was exposed to local heating and group 2 to local cold stress. Confocal microscopy was performed prior t (0) (control), directly t (1) and 5 min t (2) after local temperature changes to evaluate quantitative blood cell flow, capillary loop diameter, and density of dermal capillaries. In group 1, blood flow increased at t (1) (75.82 +/- 2.86/min) and further at t (2) (84.09 +/- 3.39/min) compared to the control (61.09 +/- 3.21/min). The control capillary size was 9.59 +/- 0.25 microm, increased to 11.16 +/- 0.21 microm (t (1)) and 11.57 +/- 0.24 microm (t (2)). The dermal capillary density increased in t (1) (7.26 +/- 0.76/mm(2)) and t (2) (8.16 +/- 0.52/mm(2)), compared to the control (7.04 +/- 0.62/mm(2)). In group 2, blood flow decreased at t (1) (41.73 +/- 2.61/min) and increased at t (2) (83.27 +/- 3.29/min) compared to the control (60.73 +/- 2.90/min). The control capillary size was 9.55 +/- 0.25 microm, decreased at t (1) (7.78 +/- 0.26 microm) and increased at t (2) (11.38 +/- 0.26 microm). Capillary density decreased at t (1) (5.01 +/- 0.49/mm(2)) and increased at t (2) (7.28 +/- 0.53/mm(2)) compared to the control (7.01 +/- 0.52/mm(2)). Confocal microscopy is a sensitive and noninvasive imaging tool for characterizing and quantifying dynamic changes of cutaneous microcirculation on a histomorphological level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. altintas.mehmet@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guggenheim
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Steiert
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aust
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Niederbichler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herold
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Vogt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055815:Young Adult