Reproducibility of Cutaneous Vascular Conductance Responses to Slow Local Heating Assessed Using seven-Laser Array Probes

• Published in: Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. 1994) Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 276 - 284
• Main Authors: Dawson, Ellen A., Low, David A., Meeuwis, Iris H.M., Kerstens, Floor G., Atkinson, Ceri L., Cable, Nigel Timothy, Green, Daniel J., Thijssen, Dick H.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; endothelial function; Female; Hot Temperature; Humans; local heating; Male; Microcirculation; microvasculature; nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Reproducibility of Results; Skin - blood supply; Skin - metabolism; skin microcirculation; Vasodilation; endothelial function; skin microcirculation; local heating; nitric oxide; microvasculature
• ISSN: 1073-9688; 1549-8719; 1549-8719
• DOI: 10.1111/micc.12196

Objective Gradual local heating of the skin induces a largely NO‐mediated vasodilatation. However, use of this assessment of microvascular health is limited because little is known about its reproducibility. Methods Healthy volunteers (n = 9) reported twice to the laboratory. CVC, derived from laser Doppler flux and mean arterial pressure, was examined in response to a standardized local heating protocol (0.5°C per 150 second from 33°C to 42°C, followed by 20 minutes at 44°C). Skin responses were examined at two locations on the forearm (between‐site). Heating was repeated after a break of 24–72 hours (between‐day). Reproducibility of skin responses at 33–42°C is presented for absolute CVC and relative CVC responses corrected for maximal CVC at 44°C (%CVCmax). Results Between‐day reproducibility of baseline CVC and %CVCmax for both sites was relatively poor (22–30%). At 42°C, CVC and %CVCmax responses showed less variation (9–19%), whilst absolute CVC responses at 44°C were 14–17%. Between‐day variation for %CVCmax increased when using data from site 1 on day 1, but site 2 on the subsequent day (25%). Conclusion Day‐to‐day reproducibility of baseline laser Doppler‐derived skin perfusion responses is poor, but acceptable when absolute and relative skin perfusion to a local gradual heating protocol is utilized and site‐to‐site variation is minimized.