Early decrease of skin blood flow in response to locally applied pressure in diabetic subjects

摘要

Pressure ulcers are common debilitating complications of diabetes that the caused by tissue ischemia. Skin blood flow in response to locally applied pressure might be impaired in diabetic patients because of the com- bined effects of typically low skin temperature and alterations in microcirculatory function, and could be worsened by neuropathy. We measured skin blood flow by laser Doppler flowmetry over the internal anklebone in response to local pressure applied at 5.0 mmHg/min in three groups of diabetic patients(with clinical and subclinical neuropathy and without neuropathy)and in healthy matched control subjects at usual room temper- ature.