Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Combined Intravital Microscopy and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography of the Mouse Hindlimb to Study Insulin-induced Vasodilation and Muscle Perfusion
08:22

Combined Intravital Microscopy and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasonography of the Mouse Hindlimb to Study Insulin-induced Vasodilation and Muscle Perfusion

Published on: March 20, 2017

Microvascular function is impaired in children with morbid obesity

Oliver Schlager1, Andrea Willfort-Ehringer, Alexandra Hammer

  • 1Department of Angiology, Vienna Medical University, Vienna, Austria.

Vascular Medicine (London, England)
|March 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Morbid obesity in children may impair microvascular function, showing higher peak blood flow and longer recovery times. This suggests early-stage vascular dysfunction in obese youth.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern in Western societies.
  • Early detection of health complications in obese children is crucial.
  • Morbid obesity may impact microvascular function even at early stages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate microvascular function in children with morbid obesity.
  • To compare microvascular responses between obese children and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed microvascular function using post-occlusive reactive hyperemia measured by laser Doppler.
  • Measured parameters included baseline perfusion, peak perfusion, and recovery time.
  • Compared data from 41 obese children (BMI > 99.5th percentile) with 91 healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • Children with morbid obesity exhibited significantly higher peak perfusion compared to controls (1.67 ± 0.76 AU vs 1.26 ± 0.5 AU, p < 0.001).
  • Recovery time was significantly prolonged in obese children (118.21 ± 34.64 s) versus healthy children (83.18 ± 35.08 s, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Higher peak perfusion and prolonged recovery time indicate microvascular dysfunction in children with morbid obesity.
  • This dysfunction may stem from impaired vasoconstrictive ability of precapillary sphincters.
  • Findings suggest that morbid obesity affects microvascular function early in childhood.

More Related Videos

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy07:24

Assessment of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy

Published on: September 29, 2017

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies10:11

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies

Published on: October 22, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
Diabetic Foot Ulcer01:31

Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Definition A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a chronic, non-healing wound that develops in individuals with diabetes. It typically occurs on pressure-bearing areas such as the heel, metatarsal heads, or hallux, and carries a high risk of infection and amputation.Pathophysiology • The development of DFUs can be explained by four interconnected mechanisms: neuropathy, ischemia, infection, and impaired wound healing. • Neuropathy is the most common factor. Sensory neuropathy reduces pain perception,...
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:26

Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake of...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution01:25

Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution

Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...