[Skin peripheral perfusion pressure (SPPP) in the leg using a technique of 133Xe clearance method]

We developed a new technique for measuring skin peripheral perfusion pressure (SPPP) in the leg by 133Xe clearance method and studied the SPPP in 50 normal volunteers and 86 diabetic patients, including 16 diabetics with gangrene. The SPPP in normal subjects, diabetics without gangrene and diabetics with gangrene were 41.9 +/- 8.6 cmH2O, 30.2 +/- 12.7 cmH2O and 19.4 +/- 10.3 cmH2O, respectively. Our result revealed that the SPPP in diabetics with gangrene was significantly lowest in three groups. The decrease of the SPPP in the diabetics may be due to the steal phenomenon of the blood flow through the abnormally dilated arteriovenous shunt vessels caused by the diabetic neuropathy. The measurement of the SPPP is very useful to assess the impairment of peripheral circulation.