Between‐day reliability of local thermal hyperemia in the forearm and index finger using single‐point laser Doppler flowmetry. (6th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McGarr, Gregory W.; Hodges, Gary J.; Cheung, Stephen S.
• Is Part Of: Microcirculation. Volume 24:Number 8(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-11-06
• Subjects: endothelial function -- glabrous skin -- local heating -- microcirculation -- nitric oxide -- nonglabrous skin -- sensory nerves -- skin blood flow; Biological transport -- Periodicals; Microcirculation -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 612.135
• DOI: 10.1111/micc.12395
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-9688

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To assess between‐day reliability for LTH in glabrous and nonglabrous index finger skin and nonglabrous forearm skin, with single‐point laser Doppler flowmetry. Methods: Part‐1: In healthy, habitually active males (n=10), LTH was examined twice (~7‐10 days apart) for both skin types on the index finger. Part‐2: Identical testing was performed on the volar forearm. Local heating (33‐42°C at 1°C·20 s −1 + 20 minutes at 44°C) was performed at all skin sites and baseline, initial peak, and plateau phases were identified. Data were expressed as raw CVC (laser‐Doppler flux/MAP), and as CVC normalized to baseline (%CVC33°C ) and maximum heating (%CVC44°C ). Reliability was assessed using between‐day mean difference, %CV, and ICC. Results: Reliability (%CV) was poor at baseline for all forms of data presentation and for other phases with %CVC33°C . At the initial peak and plateau, reliability was moderate‐poor (20%‐26%) for CVC and good‐moderate (6%‐18%) for %CVC44°C . Reliability was good‐moderate for vasodilatory onset time (10%‐23%) and time to initial peak (6%‐13%). Conclusions: For all sites, LTH reliability was acceptable for the timing, and for the initial peak and plateau using CVC or %CVC44°C .