Vasomotion in the leg skin of patients with chronic venous insufficiency

The characteristics of vasomotor activity in patients with lipodermatosclerosis (LDS) were studied using Laser Doppler fluxmetry and frequency analysis. Laser Doppler flux in the skin was recorded in the goiter region in 17 patients with LDS due to venous disease and in 16 normal control subjects. The Laser Doppler signals were analysed to give mean levels of flux and the frequency and amplitude of vasomotion were found using a fast Fourier transform (FFT). The results show significantly greater basal flow (p less than .001), and vasomotor frequency (p less than .001) and amplitude (p less than .001) in venous disease. The altered vasomotor activity is not due simply to the increased flow in LDS since increasing the flow in normal skin using the vasodilator pilocarpine does not produce as noticeable a difference.