[Tissue oxygen balance and microcirculatory changes in patients with disseminated sclerosis]

Muscle oxygen tension and local tissue blood flow were studied in 33 patients with multiple sclerosis in the course of complex treatment. The first stages of the disease were characterized by an increase of muscle oxygen tension while time of its delivery was delayed due to increased rate of local tissue blood flow and increased capillary permeability. Severe forms of multiple sclerosis are characterized by a reduced pO2 and local tissue blood flow. It is concluded that indices of tissue oxygen balance and microcirculation may serve as criteria of the severity of the disease and efficacy of instituted treatment.