Blood flow of morphoea plaques as measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry

Blood flow measurements by laser-Doppler flowmetry were performed on 15 patients with localized scleroderma (morphoea). Thirty morphoea plaques were studied by means of measurements of the sclerotic centre, the perilesional area, and regional control of the normal-appearing skin of the individual patients. Blood flow was increased (P less than 0.01) in the sclerotic area of all patient material and in the 10 patients having one or a few plaques (P less than 0.01). Five patients with generalized morphoea showed the same tendency. Blood flow was also increased in the perilesional area (P less than 0.01) of the total material, and in the patients with one or a few plaques (P less than 0.05), particularly in the case of a 'lilac ring'. 133Xenon washout measurements in 3 patients showed parallel results. The blood flow of plaques with clinically 'advanced' scleroderma was higher (P less than 0.01) as compared to plaques with 'slight' scleroderma. Measurements in pigmented spots after previous morphoea showed normal blood flow.