[New ways of studying the cutaneous microcirculation in clinical medicine (author's transl)]

Transcutaneous video microscopy opens a way to measure capillary red blood cell speed, to analyzed transcapillary diffusion and pericapillary distribution of Na-fluorescein injected i.v. and to depict the superficial lymphatic capillaries by subepidermal microinjection of FITC-labelled dextran in human skin. The dynamic phenomena may be quantitiated by video densitometers provided the information is stored on video tape. Already, some physiological and clinical data have been obtained. The velocity pattern of erythrocytes in nailfold capillaries is continuous or intermittent with flow stops. Standardized cold provocation tests are useful to evaluate Raynaud's disease. In patients with scleroderma the transcapillary passage of Na-fluorescein is increased, the physiological pericapillary halo partially destroyed and the interstitial distribution of the dye asymmetrical. In primary lymphedema the lymphatic network filled from the deposit of fluorescent dextran extends much more than in healthy controls. Pathological lymphatic microvessels occur.