ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2001 June;160(3):93-6

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Vascular distensibility as neurogenic damage in microangiopathies

Del Guercio R. ¹, Federico P. ², Ragozzino G. ², Del Guercio L. ³

¹ II Università degli Studi di Napoli - Napoli, Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale “Flaviano Magrassi”, Cattedra di Angiologia; ² II Università degli Studi di Napoli - Napoli, Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale “Flaviano Magrassi”, Cattedra di Semeiotica e Metodologia Medica; ³ II Università degli Studi di Napoli - Napoli, Dipartimento di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale “Flaviano Magrassi”, Cattedra di Chirurgia Vascolare

Background. Passive arteriolar distension is evaluated using the Laser-Doppler technique. This distension is highlighted by the elective increase in vascular distension pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate comparative VAR and skin distension in patients suffering from type II diabetes mellitus, in hypertensive patients and in sclerodermal patients.
Methods. The study included diabetic, hypertensive and sclerodermal patients, as well as a control group. VAR was evaluated together with cutaneous arteriolar distension. The data then underwent statistical analysis. All patients underwent a cutaneous infiltration of lidocaine to eliminate the influence of the nervous system.
Results. VAR was absent in patients with arterial hypertension. The index of distension was reduced in diabetic, hypertensive and sclerodermal patients.
Conclusions. This study confirms that VAR is mainly altered when there is concomitant vascular neurogenic damage. Therefore, the arteriolar distension test is elective for the staging of the microcirculation.