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Assessment of Cutaneous Microvascular Function Using Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Acetylcholine Iontophoresis

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Measuring the Skin

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Abstract

Laser Doppler flowmetry has been employed for many years to assess cutaneous microvascular function in health and disease. It is often used in conjunction with transdermal iontophoresis or microdialysis of acetylcholine, as this provides information about the integrity both of the microvascular endothelium and the cutaneous sensory nerve supply. Unfortunately, widespread application of these techniques has been impeded by methodological difficulties – particularly concerning errors introduced by nonspecific responses to iontophoresis and the relatively poor reproducibility of spot measures of blood flow, and a lack of standardisation both in the form of drug delivery and the expression of blood flow data. Nevertheless, transdermal iontophoresis of acetylcholine appears to be useful for detecting the extent of microvascular disturbances in patients with cardiovascular disease, and for identifying deficits in small fiber function in patients with peripheral neuropathy. As this technique is safe and non-invasive, it holds great promise as tool for assessing microvascular and neural responses that reflect important elements of cardio- and neurovascular health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, 6150, Perth, WA, Australia

    Peter D. Drummond

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  1. Peter D. Drummond
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Correspondence to Peter D. Drummond .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medecine Vasculaire Lab. Ingénierie et de Biologie Cutanées, CHU Besancon Service Dermatologie et, Besancon, France

    Philippe Humbert

  2. San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard Maibach

  3. Department of Dermatology, Saint Jacques University Hospital, Besançon, France

    Ferial Fanian

  4. Univ. Besançon Dépt. Dermatologie, Besançon, France

    Pierre Agache

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Drummond, P.D. (2015). Assessment of Cutaneous Microvascular Function Using Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Acetylcholine Iontophoresis. In: Humbert, P., Maibach, H., Fanian, F., Agache, P. (eds) Measuring the Skin. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26594-0_43-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26594-0_43-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26594-0

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