[The blue tests. Current data concerning its indications and interpretation (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Edema, particularly of lymphatic origin, presents a diagnostic challenge.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and reliability of the Blue test for diagnosing lymphatic edema.
• To highlight the diagnostic utility of the Blue test in angeiology.

Main Methods:

• Subcutaneous or intradermal injection of a small amount of violet patent blue dye into edematous areas.
• Observation and study of the dye's resorption characteristics.

Main Results:

• The Blue test provides immediate diagnostic results for lymphatic edema.
• The diagnostic reliability of the test is consistently high, despite not being absolute.
• Rare instances of severe intolerance to the injected dye were noted.

Conclusions:

• The Blue test is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying edema of lymphatic origin.
• The procedure offers immediate and reliable results, making it significant in the field of angeiology.
• Awareness of potential dye intolerance is important for safe clinical application.