title: Regional differences of vasodilatation and vasomotion response to local heating in human cutaneous microcirculation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the vasodilatation and vasomotion response to local heating in the cutaneous microcirculation of the ankle, dorsum of foot and forearm. Recently, it has been suggested that this response differs between the forearm and the leg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine young healthy adults were recruited. They underwent measurement by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in three sites of the body (ankle, dorsum of foot, forearm). Percentage change of the median flow of the skin before and after provocation and normalised perfusion flow to maximal dilation (cutaneous vascular conductance--CVC % Max) during short provocation test were monitored. Spectral analysis of laser Doppler flowmetry signals was performed using the fast Fourier transform algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were found in CVC % Max between ankle/dorsum (45.18±6.38% Max vs. 51.24±6.87% Max, respectively; p<0.05) and between ankle/forearm (45.18±6.38% Max vs. 54.49±5.37% Max, respectively; p<0.05). Percentage change of flux after provocation has revealed significant differences between ankle/dorsum (394.1±204.5% vs. 577.4±273.5%, respectively; p<0.05) and ankle/forearm (394.1±204.5% vs. 637.1±324.7%, respectively; p<0.05). Total spectral activity of vasomotion has differed between ankle/dorsum and ankle/forearm: 69.59 [49.58-96.04] vs. 93.01 [73.15-121.8] (p<0.05) and 69.59 [49.58-96.04] vs. 107.5 [80.55-155.8] (p<0.05), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cutaneous microcirculation exhibits regional differences. Significant variability of function between ankle and dorsum of foot suggests that leg microcirculation is not uniform.
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balaz
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komornikova
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruzliak
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabaka
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Ludovit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaspar
authors.affiliation: 4 The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention & Management (CCDPM), Western CHRE, Victoria University, St Albans, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zulli
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kucera
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zvonicek
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sabo
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ambrozy
authors.affiliation: 1 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dukat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D005542:Forearm; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D055806:Microvessels / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014664:Vasodilation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: LDF; Skin microcirculation; laser Doppler flowmetry; local heating; regional differences