Reactivity of the microcirculation in port wine stain hemangiomas evaluated by laser Doppler fluxmetry

Twelve patients with port wine stains (both untreated and treated with argon laser) had their microcirculation monitored by laser Doppler flux at rest and after arterial occlusion lasting one minute. The blood cell flux was measured in normal, untreated and treated skin areas. The resting flux was significantly higher in untreated port wine stains than in the normal skin. The reactive hyperemia response was significantly impaired in the untreated skin, although a 60% increase in blood cell flux was achieved by the short arterial occlusion. In most of the recorded parameters the treated areas showed a less pathological reaction than the untreated ones. We conclude that peroperative vasodilation can be induced in port wine stains, and this may be used to improve the outcome of argon laser treatment.