Manifestation of internal organs malfunction by laser Doppler study on microcirculation

Monitoring of microvascular blood perfusion provides very specific information on the proper function or malfunction of some internal organs, e.g. the pancreas and kidney. The laser Doppler method was used to measure microperfusion in the skin of the lower limb of diabetic patients and patients undergoing hemodialysis. This method offers non-invasive, real-time monitoring and is already accepted in many clinical experiments. The method and the laser Doppler instruments used are described. Special attention is paid to the investigation of microvascular abnormality in diabetes by using a multichannel laser Doppler system during postocclusive reactive hyperemia. The study group consisted of 41 diabetes and 24 healthy subjects with no history of family diabetes. The most valuable data were obtained from the probe located on the most distal part of the foot. Some hyperemic parameters (maximum of hyperemic response, time to peak flow) were significantly different for the diabetic group as comparing to the norm. In the microcirculation study during hemodialysis, three patients with kidney dysfunction were investigated. Increase in red blood cell velocity was observed, probably caused by better distribution of blood to the peripheral circulation.