title: Direct comparison of laser Doppler flowmetry and laser Doppler imaging for assessment of experimentally-induced inflammation in human skin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) can measure localized skin perfusion. The purpose of the study was to directly compare LDF with LDI as a tool for measuring skin blood changes in an experimental model of chemically-induced skin inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regions of interest 1.8 cm² in area on the forearm skin of eight healthy volunteers were randomized and exposed to 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 % topical sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or vehicle for 24 h. Mean blood flow was measured by LDI and LDF at 24, 48, and 72 h. Inflammation was clinically graded using a standardized, clinical score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sodium lauryl sulfate induced significant, dose-dependent local inflammation. Both Doppler methods were significantly correlated with the clinical grading (LDF, r = 0.755; LDI, r = 0.836). LDF and LDI showed similar significance differences with regard to dose- and time-response patterns compared to the vehicle. The absolute and relative LDF and LDI values were significantly correlated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser Doppler flowmetry and LDI showed similar dose- and time-response relations in irritant-induced inflammatory skin reactions. For the assessment of localized skin reactions, LDI possesses no apparent advantages over the less expensive LDF method for grading dermal inflammatory reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9100, Aalborg, Denmark, lajp@rn.dk.
authors.forename: Lars J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007509:Irritants; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate