Abstract
Capillaroscopy or intravital videomicroscopy is a noninvasive imaging technique that is used for in vivo assessment of the microcirculation providing a 2-D projection of a 3-D capillary network. It generates high-contrast images, videotapes, or photographs of skin capillaries by means of television, video, and/or informatic systems. It allows the assessment of capillary morphology and capillary density (traditional capillaroscopy), capillary flow velocity (dynamic capillaroscopy), and capillary red cell column width. It can also be employed in combination with sophisticated methods in order to measure red blood cell velocity, capillary pressure (i.e., cannulated capillaries using micropipettes and micropressure devices), and transcapillary diffusion (capillary permeability) in combination with intravenous administration of fluorescent dyes, such as sodium fluorescein or indocyanine green (fluorescence videomicroscopy or fluorescence angiography), in order to evaluate the heterogeneity of capillary flow distribution or to disclose structures that cannot be seen with traditional capillaroscopy (such as capillary aneurisms), thus allowing comprehensive physiological and pharmacological studies in humans.
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Rosei, E.A., De Ciuceis, C., Rizzoni, D. (2015). Capillaroscopy. In: Agabiti Rosei, E., Mancia, G. (eds) Assessment of Preclinical Organ Damage in Hypertension. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15603-3_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15603-3_12
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